Guam
\n(territory of the US)
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 541 km2; land area: 541 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of
\nWashington, DC<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: none<\/p>\n
Coastline: 125.5 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Contiguous zone: 12 nm;<\/p>\n
Continental shelf: 200 m;<\/p>\n
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 12 nm<\/p>\n
Climate: tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by
\nnortheast trade winds; dry season from January to June, rainy season from
\nJuly to December; little seasonal temperature variation<\/p>\n
Terrain: volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively flat
\ncoraline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water) with steep coastal
\ncliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low-rising hills in center,
\nmountains in south<\/p>\n
Natural resources: fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism (especially
\nfrom Japan)<\/p>\n
Land use: 11% arable land; 11% permanent crops; 15% meadows and pastures;
\n18% forest and woodland; 45% other<\/p>\n
Environment: frequent squalls during rainy season; subject to relatively
\nrare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (especially in August)<\/p>\n
Note: largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago;
\nstrategic location in western North Pacific Ocean 5,955 km west-southwest of
\nHonolulu about three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and the Philippines<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 141,039 (July 1990), growth rate 2.8% (1990)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 26 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 4 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: 5 migrants\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 12 deaths\/1,000 live births (1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 75 years female (1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 3.0 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: noun–Guamanian(s); adjective–Guamanian<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: 47% Chamorro, 25% Filipino, 10% Caucasian,
\n18% Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and other<\/p>\n
Religion: 98% Roman Catholic, 2% other<\/p>\n
Language: English and Chamorro, most residents bilingual; Japanese
\nalso widely spoken<\/p>\n
Literacy: 90%<\/p>\n
Labor force: 54,000; 42% government, 58% private (1988)<\/p>\n
Organized labor: 13% of labor force<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: Territory of Guam<\/p>\n
Type: organized, unincorporated territory of the US<\/p>\n
Capital: Agana<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)<\/p>\n
Independence: none (territory of the US)<\/p>\n
Constitution: Organic Act of 1 August 1950<\/p>\n
Legal system: NA<\/p>\n
National holiday: Guam Discovery Day (first Monday in March), 6 March 1989<\/p>\n
Executive branch: US president, governor, lieutenant governor, Cabinet<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislature<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: Superior Court of Guam (Federal District Court)<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nChief of State–President George BUSH (since 20 January 1989);<\/p>\n
Head of Government–Governor Joseph A. ADA (since NA November 1986)<\/p>\n
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party (controls the
\nlegislature); Republican Party (party of the Governor)<\/p>\n
Suffrage: universal at age 18; US citizens, but do not vote in US
\npresidential elections<\/p>\n
Elections:
\nGovernor–last held on NA November 1986 (next to be held
\nNovember 1990);<\/p>\n
Legislature–last held on 8 November 1988 (next to be held
\nNovember 1990);
\nresults–percent of vote by party NA;
\nseats–(21 total) Democratic 13, Republican 8;<\/p>\n
US House of Representatives–last held 8 November
\n1988 (next to be held November 1990);
\nGuam elects one nonvoting delegate;
\nresults–percent of vote by party NA;
\nseats–(1 total) Republican 1<\/p>\n
Communists: none<\/p>\n
Note: relations between Guam and the US are under the jurisdiction of the
\nOffice of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the
\nInterior<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: none (territory of the US)<\/p>\n
Flag: dark blue with a narrow red border on all four sides; centered is a
\nred-bordered, pointed, vertical ellipse containing a beach scene, outrigger
\ncanoe with sail, and a palm tree with the word GUAM superimposed in bold
\nred letters<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: The economy is based on US military spending and on revenues
\nfrom tourism. Over the past 20 years the tourist industry has grown
\nrapidly, creating a construction boom for new hotels and the expansion of
\nolder ones. Visitors numbered about 800,000 in 1989. The small manufacturing
\nsector includes textile and clothing, beverage, food, and watch
\nproduction. About 58% of the labor force works for the private sector and the
\nrest for government. Most food and industrial goods are imported, with about 75%
\nfrom the US. In 1989 the unemployment rate was about 3%, down from 10% in
\n1983.<\/p>\n
GNP: $1.0 billion, per capita $7,675; real growth rate 20%
\n(1988 est.)<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.9% (1988)<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: 3% (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Budget: revenues $208.0 million; expenditures $175 million, including
\ncapital expenditures of $17 million (1987 est.)<\/p>\n
Exports: $39 million (f.o.b., 1983);
\ncommodities–mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products,
\ncopra, fish;
\npartners–US 25%, others 75%<\/p>\n
Imports: $611 million (c.i.f., 1983);
\ncommodities–mostly crude petroleum and petroleum products, food,
\nmanufactured goods;
\npartners–US 77%, others 23%<\/p>\n
External debt: $NA<\/p>\n
Industrial production: growth rate NA%<\/p>\n
Electricity: 500,000 kW capacity; 2,300 million kWh produced,
\n16,660 kWh per capita (1989)<\/p>\n
Industries: US military, tourism, petroleum refining, construction,
\nconcrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles<\/p>\n
Agriculture: relatively undeveloped with most food imported;
\nfruits, vegetables, eggs, pork, poultry, beef, copra<\/p>\n
Aid: NA<\/p>\n
Currency: US currency is used<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: US currency is used<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September<\/p>\n
Communications
\nHighways: 674 km all-weather roads<\/p>\n
Ports: Apra Harbor<\/p>\n
Airports: 5 total, 4 usable; 3 with permanent-surface runways;
\nnone with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
\nnone with runways 1,220-2,439 m<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: 26,317 telephones (1989); stations–3 AM, 3 FM, 3 TV;
\n2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT ground stations<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nNote: defense is the responsibility of the US
\n.pa
\nGuatemala
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 108,890 km2; land area: 108,430 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly smaller than Tennessee<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: 1,687 km total; Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km,
\nHonduras 256 km, Mexico 962 km<\/p>\n
Coastline: 400 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Continental shelf: not specific;<\/p>\n
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 12 nm<\/p>\n
Disputes: claims Belize, but boundary negotiations are under way<\/p>\n
Climate: tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands<\/p>\n
Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling
\nlimestone plateau (Peten)<\/p>\n
Natural resources: crude oil, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle<\/p>\n
Land use: 12% arable land; 4% permanent crops; 12% meadows and pastures;
\n40% forest and woodland; 32% other; includes 1% irrigated<\/p>\n
Environment: numerous volcanoes in mountains, with frequent violent
\nearthquakes; Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms;
\ndeforestation; soil erosion; water pollution<\/p>\n
Note: no natural harbors on west coast<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 9,097,636 (July 1990), growth rate 2.6% (1990)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 37 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 9 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: – 3 migrants\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 61 deaths\/1,000 live births (1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 60 years male, 65 years female (1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 5.1 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: noun–Guatemalan(s); adjective–Guatemalan<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: 56% Ladino (mestizo–mixed Indian and European
\nancestry), 44% Indian<\/p>\n
Religion: predominantly Roman Catholic; also Protestant, traditional
\nMayan<\/p>\n
Language: Spanish, but over 40% of the population speaks an Indian
\nlanguage as a primary tongue (18 Indian dialects, including Quiche, Cakchiquel,
\nKekchi)<\/p>\n
Literacy: 50%<\/p>\n
Labor force: 2,500,000; 57.0% agriculture, 14.0% manufacturing,
\n13.0% services, 7.0% commerce, 4.0% construction, 3.0% transport,
\n0.8% utilities, 0.4% mining (1985)<\/p>\n
Organized labor: 8% of labor force (1988 est.)<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: Republic of Guatemala<\/p>\n
Type: republic<\/p>\n
Capital: Guatemala<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: 22 departments (departamentos,
\nsingular–departamento); Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango, Chiquimula,
\nEl Progreso, Escuintla, Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Izabal, Jalapa, Jutiapa,
\nPeten, Quezaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu, Sacatepequez, San Marcos,
\nSanta Rosa, Solola, Suchitepequez, Totonicapan, Zacapa<\/p>\n
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)<\/p>\n
Constitution: 31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986<\/p>\n
Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has
\nnot accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction<\/p>\n
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)<\/p>\n
Executive branch: president, vice president, Council of Ministers
\n(cabinet)<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: unicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia)<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nChief of State and Head of Government–President Mario Vinicio CEREZO
\nArevalo (since 14 January 1986); Vice President Roberto CARPIO Nicolle
\n(since 14 January 1986)<\/p>\n
Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Party (DCG),
\nMarco Vinicio Cerezo Arevalo;
\nNational Centrist Union (UCN), Jorge Carpio Nicolle;
\nNational Liberation Movement (MLN), Mario Sandoval Alarcon;
\nSocial Action Movement (MAS), Jorge Serrano Elias;
\nRevolutionary Party (PR) in coalition with National Renewal Party (PNR),
\nAlejandro Maldonado Aguirre;
\nSocial Democratic Party (PSD), Mario Solarzano Martinez;
\nNational Authentic Center (CAN), Mario David Garcia;
\nUnited Anti-Communist Party (PUA), Leonel Sisniega;
\nEmerging Movement for Harmony (MEC), Louis Gordillo;
\nDemocratic Party of National Cooperation (PDCN), Adan Fletes;
\nDemocratic Institutional Party (PID), Oscar Rivas;
\nNationalist United Front (FUN), Gabriel Giron<\/p>\n
Suffrage: universal at age 18, compulsory for literates, voluntary for
\nilliterates<\/p>\n
Elections:
\nPresident–last held on 3 December 1985 (next to be held 3 November 1990);
\nresults–Mario Vinicio Cerezo Arevalo (DCG) 38.7%, Jorge Carpio
\nNicolle (UCN) 20.2%, Jorge Serrano Elias (PDCN\/PR) 14.8%;<\/p>\n
National Congress–last held on 3 November 1985 (next to be held
\n3 November 1990);
\nresults–DCG 38.7%, UCN 20.2%, PDCN\/PR 13.8%, MLN\/PID 12.6%,
\nCAN 6.3%, PSD 3.4%, PNR 3.2%, PUA\/FUN\/MEC 1.9%;
\nseats–(100 total) DCG 51, UCN 22, MLN 12, PDCN\/PR 11, PSD 2, PNR 1, CAN 1<\/p>\n
Communists: Guatemalan Labor Party (PGT); main radical left guerrilla
\ngroups–Guerrilla Army of the Poor (EGP), Revolutionary Organization of the
\nPeople in Arms (ORPA), Rebel Armed Forces (FAR), and PGT dissidents<\/p>\n
Other political or pressure groups: Federated Chambers of Commerce and
\nIndustry (CACIF), Mutual Support Group (GAM), Unity for Popular and Labor
\nAction (UASP), Agrarian Owners Group (UNAGRO), Committee for Campesino Unity
\n(CUC)<\/p>\n
Member of: CACM, CCC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAC, ICAO, ICO, IDA,
\nIDB–Inter-American Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
\nINTERPOL, IRC, ISO, ITU, IWC–International Wheat Council, OAS, ODECA, PAHO,
\nSELA, UN, UNESCO, UPEB, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Rodolfo ROHRMOSER V;
\nChancery at 2220 R Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202)
\n745-4952 through 4954;
\nthere are Guatemalan Consulates General in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
\nNew Orleans, New York, and San Francisco;
\nUS–Ambassador Thomas F. STROOCK; Embassy at 7-01 Avenida de la
\nReforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City (mailing address is APO Miami 34024);
\ntelephone \u00d5502\u00e5 (2) 31-15-41<\/p>\n
Flag: three equal vertical bands of light blue (hoist side), white, and
\nlight blue with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms
\nincludes a green and red quetzal (the national bird) and a scroll bearing the
\ninscription LIBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of
\nindependence from Spain) all superimposed on a pair of crossed rifles and a
\npair of crossed swords and framed by a wreath<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: The economy is based on agriculture, which accounts for
\n25% of GDP, employs about 60% of the labor force, and supplies two-thirds
\nof exports. Industry accounts for about 20% of GDP and 15% of the labor
\nforce. The economy has reentered a slow-growth phase, but is hampered by
\npolitical uncertainty. In 1988 the economy grew by 3.7%, the third
\nconsecutive year of mild growth. Government economic reforms introduced
\nsince 1986 have stabilized exchange rates and have helped to stem
\ninflationary pressures. The inflation rate has dropped from 36.9%
\nin 1986 to 15% in 1989.<\/p>\n
GDP: $10.8 billion, per capita $1,185; real growth rate 1.3% (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15% (1989)<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: 13%, with 30-40% underemployment (1988 est.)<\/p>\n
Budget: revenues $771 million; expenditures $957 million, including
\ncapital expenditures of $188 million (1988)<\/p>\n
Exports: $1.02 billion (f.o.b., 1988);
\ncommodities–coffee 38%, bananas 7%, sugar 7%, cardamom 4%;
\npartners–US 29%, El Salvador, FRG, Costa Rica, Italy<\/p>\n
Imports: $1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1988);
\ncommodities–fuel and petroleum products, machinery, grain, fertilizers,
\nmotor vehicles;
\npartners–US 38%, Mexico, FRG, Japan, El Salvador<\/p>\n
External debt: $3.0 billion (December 1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Industrial production: growth rate 3.5% (1988 est.)<\/p>\n
Electricity: 807,000 kW capacity; 2,540 million kWh produced,
\n280 kWh per capita (1989)<\/p>\n
Industries: sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals,
\npetroleum, metals, rubber, tourism<\/p>\n
Agriculture: accounts for 25% of GDP; most important sector of economy
\nand contributes two-thirds to export earnings; principal
\ncrops–sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom;
\nlivestock–cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens; food importer<\/p>\n
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of opium poppy and cannabis for the
\ninternational drug trade; the government has engaged in aerial
\neradication of opium poppy; transit country for cocaine shipments<\/p>\n
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $869 million; Western
\n(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $7.7 billion<\/p>\n
Currency: quetzal (plural–quetzales); 1 quetzal (Q) = 100 centavos<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: free market quetzales (Q) per US$1–3.3913
\n(January 1990), 2.8261 (1989), 2.6196 (1988), 2.500 (1987), 1.875 (1986),
\n1.000 (1985); note–black-market rate 2.800 (May 1989)<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: calendar year<\/p>\n
Communications
\nRailroads: 870 km 0.914-meter gauge, single track; 780 km government
\nowned, 90 km privately owned<\/p>\n
Highways: 26,429 km total; 2,868 km paved, 11,421 km gravel, and 12,140
\nunimproved<\/p>\n
Inland waterways: 260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km
\nnavigable during high-water season<\/p>\n
Pipelines: crude oil, 275 km<\/p>\n
Ports: Puerto Barrios, Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomas de Castilla<\/p>\n
Merchant marine: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
\n4,129 GRT\/6,450 DWT<\/p>\n
Civil air: 10 major transport aircraft<\/p>\n
Airports: 451 total, 391 usable; 11 with permanent-surface runways;
\nnone with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 19 with
\nrunways 1,220-2,439 m<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: fairly modern network centered in Guatemala
\n\u00d5city\u00e5; 97,670 telephones; stations–91 AM, no FM, 25 TV, 15 shortwave;
\nconnection into Central American Microwave System; 1 Atlantic Ocean
\nINTELSAT earth station<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nBranches: Army, Navy, Air Force<\/p>\n
Military manpower: males 15-49, 2,028,875; 1,327,374 fit for military
\nservice; 107,251 reach military age (18) annually<\/p>\n
Defense expenditures: 1% of GDP, or $115 million (1990 est.)
\n.pa
\nGuernsey
\n(British crown dependency)
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 194 km2; land area: 194 km2; includes Alderney, Guernsey,
\nHerm, Sark, and some other smaller islands<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: none<\/p>\n
Coastline: 50 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation;<\/p>\n
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 3 nm<\/p>\n
Climate: temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of
\ndays are overcast<\/p>\n
Terrain: mostly level with low hills in southwest<\/p>\n
Natural resources: cropland<\/p>\n
Land use: NA% arable land; NA% permanent crops; NA% meadows and pastures;
\nNA% forest and woodland; NA% other; about 50% cultivated<\/p>\n
Environment: large, deepwater harbor at St. Peter Port<\/p>\n
Note: 52 km west of France<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 57,227 (July 1990), growth rate 0.7% (1990)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 12 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 11 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: 6 migrants\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths\/1,000 live births (1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 78 years female (1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: noun–Channel Islander(s); adjective–Channel Islander<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: UK and Norman-French descent<\/p>\n
Religion: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist,
\nCongregational, Methodist<\/p>\n
Language: English, French; Norman-French dialect spoken in country
\ndistricts<\/p>\n
Literacy: NA%, but universal education<\/p>\n
Labor force: NA<\/p>\n
Organized labor: NA<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: Bailiwick of Guernsey<\/p>\n
Type: British crown dependency<\/p>\n
Capital: St. Peter Port<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: none (British crown dependency)<\/p>\n
Independence: none (British crown dependency)<\/p>\n
Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice<\/p>\n
Legal system: English law and local statute; justice is administered by
\nthe Royal Court<\/p>\n
National holiday: Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)<\/p>\n
Executive branch: British monarch, lieutenant governor, bailiff,
\ndeputy bailiff<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: States of Deliberation<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: Royal Court<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nChief of State–Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);<\/p>\n
Head of Government–Lieutenant Governor Lt. Gen. Sir Alexander
\nBOSWELL (since 1985); Bailiff Sir Charles FROSSARD (since 1982)<\/p>\n
Political parties and leaders: none; all independents<\/p>\n
Suffrage: universal at age 18<\/p>\n
Elections:
\nStates of Deliberation–last held NA (next to be held NA);
\nresults–percent of vote NA;
\nseats–(60 total, 33 elected), all independents<\/p>\n
Communists: none<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: none (British crown dependency)<\/p>\n
Flag: white with the red cross of St. George (patron saint of England)
\nextending to the edges of the flag<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: Tourism is a major source of revenue. Other economic
\nactivity includes financial services, breeding the world-famous
\nGuernsey cattle, and growing tomatoes and flowers for export.<\/p>\n
GDP: $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate 9% (1987)<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1988)<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: NA%<\/p>\n
Budget: revenues $145.0 million; expenditures $117.2 million, including
\ncapital expenditures of NA (1985)<\/p>\n
Exports: $NA;
\ncommodities–tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant,
\nother vegetables;
\npartners–UK (regarded as internal trade)<\/p>\n
Imports: $NA;
\ncommodities–coal, gasoline and oil;
\npartners–UK (regarded as internal trade)<\/p>\n
External debt: $NA<\/p>\n
Industrial production: growth rate NA%<\/p>\n
Electricity: 173,000 kW capacity; 525 million kWh produced,
\n9,340 kWh per capita (1989)<\/p>\n
Industries: tourism, banking<\/p>\n
Agriculture: tomatoes, flowers (mostly grown in greenhouses),
\nsweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables and fruit; Guernsey cattle<\/p>\n
Aid: none<\/p>\n
Currency: Guernsey pound (plural–pounds);
\n1 Guernsey (LG) pound = 100 pence<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: Guernsey pounds (LG) per US$1–0.6055 (January
\n1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987), 0.6817 (1986),
\n0.7714 (1985); note–the Guernsey pound is at par with the British pound<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: calendar year<\/p>\n
Communications
\nPorts: St. Peter Port, St. Sampson<\/p>\n
Airport: 1 with permanent-surface runway 1,220-2,439 m (La Villiaze)<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: stations–1 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 41,900
\ntelephones; 1 submarine cable<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nNote: defense is the responsibility of the UK
\n.pa
\nGuinea
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 245,860 km2; land area: 245,860 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly smaller than Oregon<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: 3,399 km total; Guinea-Bissau 386 km, Ivory Coast
\n610 km, Liberia 563 km, Mali 858 km, Senegal 330 km, Sierra Leone 652 km<\/p>\n
Coastline: 320 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 12 nm<\/p>\n
Climate: generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season
\n(June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to
\nMay) with northeasterly harmattan winds<\/p>\n
Terrain: generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior<\/p>\n
Natural resources: bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium,
\nhydropower, fish<\/p>\n
Land use: 6% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 12% meadows and
\npastures; 42% forest and woodland; 40% other; includes NEGL% irrigated<\/p>\n
Environment: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during
\ndry season; deforestation<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 7,269,240 (July 1990), growth rate 2.6% (1990)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 47 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 22 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: 0 migrants\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 147 deaths\/1,000 live births (1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 40 years male, 44 years female (1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 6.1 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: noun–Guinean(s); adjective–Guinean<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: Fulani, Malinke, Sousou, 15 smaller tribes<\/p>\n
Religion: 85% Muslim, 5% indigenous beliefs, 1.5% Christian<\/p>\n
Language: French (official); each tribe has its own language<\/p>\n
Literacy: 20% in French; 48% in local languages<\/p>\n
Labor force: 2,400,000 (1983); 82.0% agriculture, 11.0% industry and
\ncommerce, 5.4% services; 88,112 civil servants (1987); 52% of population of
\nworking age (1985)<\/p>\n
Organized labor: virtually 100% of wage earners loosely affiliated with
\nthe National Confederation of Guinean Workers<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: Republic of Guinea<\/p>\n
Type: republic<\/p>\n
Capital: Conakry<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: 29 administrative regions (regions
\nadministratives, singular–region administrative); Beyla, Boffa, Boke,
\nConakry, Dabola, Dalaba, Dinguiraye, Dubreka, Faranah, Forecariah, Fria, Gaoual,
\nGueckedou, Kankan, Kerouane, Kindia, Kissidougou, Koundara, Kouroussa, Labe,
\nMacenta, Mali, Mamou, Nzerekore, Pita, Siguiri, Telimele, Tougue, Yomou<\/p>\n
Independence: 2 October 1958 (from France; formerly French Guinea)<\/p>\n
Constitution: 14 May 1982, suspended after coup of 3 April 1984<\/p>\n
Legal system: based on French civil law system, customary law, and decree;
\nlegal codes currently being revised; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
\njurisdiction<\/p>\n
National holiday: Anniversary of the Second Republic, 3 April (1984)<\/p>\n
Executive branch: president, Military Committee for National
\nRecovery (Comite Militaire de Redressement National or CMRN), Council of
\nMinisters (cabinet)<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: People’s National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale
\nPopulaire) was dissolved after the 3 April 1984 coup<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal (Cour d’Appel)<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nChief of State and Head of Government–Gen. Lansana CONTE (since
\n5 April 1984)<\/p>\n
Political parties and leaders: none; following the 3 April 1984
\ncoup all political activity was banned<\/p>\n
Suffrage: none<\/p>\n
Elections: none<\/p>\n
Communists: no Communist party, although there are some sympathizers<\/p>\n
Member of: ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBA, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDA,
\nIDB–Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU,
\nMano River Union, Niger River Commission, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNESCO,
\nUPU, WHO, WMO<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Kekoura CAMARA; Chancery at
\n2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 483-9420;
\nUS–Ambassador Samuel E. LUPO; Embassy at 2nd Boulevard and 9th Avenue,
\nConakry (mailing address is B. P. 603, Conakry); telephone 44-15-20 through 24<\/p>\n
Flag: three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green;
\nuses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Rwanda
\nwhich has a large black letter R centered in the yellow band<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: Although possessing many natural resources and considerable
\npotential for agricultural development, Guinea is one of the poorest
\ncountries in the world. The agricultural sector contributes about 40%
\nto GDP and employs more than 80% of the work force, while industry
\naccounts for about 25% of GDP. Guinea possesses over 25% of the
\nworld’s bauxite reserves; exports of bauxite and alumina accounted for more
\nthan 80% of total exports in 1986.<\/p>\n
GDP: $2.5 billion, per capita $350; real growth rate 5.0%
\n(1988)<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 27.0% (1988)<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: NA%<\/p>\n
Budget: revenues $357 million; expenditures $480 million, including
\ncapital expenditures of $229 million (1988 est.)<\/p>\n
Exports: $553 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.);
\ncommodities–alumina, bauxite, diamonds, coffee, pineapples, bananas,
\npalm kernels;
\npartners–US 33%, EC 33%, USSR and Eastern Europe 20%, Canada<\/p>\n
Imports: $509 million (c.i.f., 1988 est.);
\ncommodities–petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment,
\nfoodstuffs, textiles and other grain;
\npartners–US 16%, France, Brazil<\/p>\n
External debt: $1.6 billion (December 1988)<\/p>\n
Industrial production: growth rate NA%<\/p>\n
Electricity: 113,000 kW capacity; 300 million kWh produced,
\n40 kWh per capita (1989)<\/p>\n
Industries: bauxite mining, alumina, diamond mining, light
\nmanufacturing and agricultural processing industries<\/p>\n
Agriculture: accounts for 40% of GDP (includes fishing and forestry);
\nmostly subsistence farming; principal products–rice, coffee, pineapples, palm
\nkernels, cassava, bananas, sweet potatoes, timber; livestock–cattle,
\nsheep and goats; not self-sufficient in food grains<\/p>\n
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $203 million; Western
\n(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $882 million;
\nOPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $120 million; Communist countries (1970-88),
\n$446 million<\/p>\n
Currency: Guinean franc (plural–francs);
\n1 Guinean franc (FG) = 100 centimes<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: Guinean francs (FG) per US$1–505.00 (October 1988),
\n440.00 (January 1988), 440.00 (1987), 235.63 (1986), 22.47 (1985)<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: calendar year<\/p>\n
Communications
\nRailroads: 1,045 km; 806 km 1.000-meter gauge, 239 km 1.435-meter
\nstandard gauge<\/p>\n
Highways: 30,100 km total; 1,145 km paved, 12,955 km gravel or laterite
\n(of which barely 4,500 km are currently all-weather roads), 16,000 km unimproved
\nearth (1987)<\/p>\n
Inland waterways: 1,295 km navigable by shallow-draft native craft<\/p>\n
Ports: Conakry, Kamsar<\/p>\n
Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft<\/p>\n
Airports: 16 total, 16 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways;
\nnone with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
\n9 with runways 1,220-2,439 m<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: fair system of open-wire lines, small
\nradiocommunication stations, and new radio relay system; 10,000 telephones;
\nstations–3 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 12,000 TV sets; 125,000 radio receivers;
\n1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nBranches: Army (ground forces), Navy (acts primarily as a coast guard),
\nAir Force, paramilitary National Gendarmerie<\/p>\n
Military manpower: males 15-49, 1,657,787; 834,777 fit for military
\nservice<\/p>\n
Defense expenditures: 3.1% of GDP (1984)
\n.pa
\nGuinea-Bissau
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 36,120 km2; land area: 28,000 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of
\nConnecticut<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: 724 km total; Guinea 386, Senegal 338 km<\/p>\n
Coastline: 350 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 12 nm<\/p>\n
Disputes: the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has rendered its
\ndecision on the Guinea-Bissau\/Senegal maritime boundary (in favor
\nof Senegal)–that decision has been rejected by Guinea-Bissau<\/p>\n
Climate: tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoon-type rainy
\nseason (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December
\nto May) with northeasterly harmattan winds<\/p>\n
Terrain: mostly low coastal plain rising to savanna in east<\/p>\n
Natural resources: unexploited deposits of petroleum, bauxite,
\nphosphates; fish, timber<\/p>\n
Land use: 11% arable land; 1% permanent crops; 43% meadows and
\npastures; 38% forest and woodland; 7% other<\/p>\n
Environment: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during
\ndry season<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 998,963 (July 1990), growth rate 2.5% (1990)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 43 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 19 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: 0 migrants\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 127 deaths\/1,000 live births (1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 44 years male, 48 years female (1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 5.9 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: noun–Guinea-Bissauan(s); adjective–Guinea-Bissauan<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: about 99% African (30% Balanta, 20% Fula, 14% Manjaca,
\n13% Mandinga, 7% Papel); less than 1% European and mulatto<\/p>\n
Religion: 65% indigenous beliefs, 30% Muslim, 5% Christian<\/p>\n
Language: Portuguese (official); Criolo and numerous African languages<\/p>\n
Literacy: 34% (1986)<\/p>\n
Labor force: 403,000 (est.); 90% agriculture, 5% industry,
\nservices, and commerce, 5% government; 53% of population of working
\nage (1983)<\/p>\n
Organized labor: only one trade union–the National Union of Workers of
\nGuinea-Bissau (UNTG)<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: Republic of Guinea-Bissau<\/p>\n
Type: republic; highly centralized one-party regime since September 1974<\/p>\n
Capital: Bissau<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: 9 regions (regioes, singular–regiao);
\nBafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara,
\nTombali<\/p>\n
Independence: 24 September 1973 (from Portugal; formerly Portuguese
\nGuinea)<\/p>\n
Constitution: 16 May 1984<\/p>\n
Legal system: NA<\/p>\n
National holiday: Independence Day, 24 September (1973)<\/p>\n
Executive branch: president of the Council of State, vice presidents
\nof the Council of State, Council of State, Council of Ministers (cabinet)<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: unicameral National People’s Assembly (Assembleia
\nNacional Popular)<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: none; there is a Ministry of Justice in the Council
\nof Ministers<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nChief of State and Head of Government–President of the
\nCouncil of State Brig. Gen. Joao Bernardo VIEIRA (assumed power 14
\nNovember 1980 and elected President of Council of State on 16 May 1984);
\nFirst Vice President Col. Iafai CAMARA (since 7 November 1985); Second
\nVice President Vasco CABRAL (since 21 June 1989)<\/p>\n
Political parties and leaders: only party–African Party for the
\nIndependence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC), President
\nJoao Bernardo Vieira, leader; the party decided to retain the
\nbinational title despite its formal break with Cape Verde<\/p>\n
Suffrage: universal at age 15<\/p>\n
Elections:
\nPresident of Council of State–last held 19 June 1989 (next
\nto be held 19 June 1994);
\nresults–Brig. Gen. Joao Bernardo Vieira was reelected without
\nopposition by the National People’s Assembly;<\/p>\n
National People’s Assembly–last held 15 June 1989 (next
\nto be held 15 June 1994);
\nresults–PAIGC is the only party;
\nseats–(150 total) PAIGC 150, appointed by Regional Councils;<\/p>\n
Regional Councils–last held 1 June 1989 (next to be held 1 June
\n1994); results–PAIGC is the only party;
\nseats–(473 total) PAIGC 473, by public plebiscite<\/p>\n
Communists: a few Communists, some sympathizers<\/p>\n
Member of: ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto),
\nIBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB–Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO,
\nIMF, IMO, IRC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Alfredo Lopes CABRAL; Chancery
\n(temporary) at the Guinea-Bissauan Permanent Mission to the UN, Suite 604,
\n211 East 43rd Street, New York, NY 10017; telephone (212) 661-3977;
\nUS–Ambassador William L. JACOBSEN; Embassy at 17 Avenida Domingos Ramos,
\nBissau (mailing address is C. P. 297, Bissau); telephone \u00d5245\u00e5 212816, 21817,
\n213674<\/p>\n
Flag: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a vertical
\nred band on the hoist side; there is a black five-pointed star centered in the
\nred band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag
\nof Cape Verde which has the black star raised above the center of the red band
\nand is framed by two corn stalks and a yellow clam shell<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: Guinea-Bissau ranks among the poorest countries in the world,
\nwith a per capita GDP below $200. Agriculture and fishing are the main economic
\nactivities, with cashew nuts, peanuts, and palm kernels the primary exports.
\nExploitation of known mineral deposits is unlikely at present because of a weak
\ninfrastructure and the high cost of development. The government’s four-year plan
\n(1988-91) has targeted agricultural development as the top priority.<\/p>\n
GDP: $152 million, per capita $160 (1988); real growth rate
\n5.6% (1987)<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: NA%<\/p>\n
Budget: revenues $20 million; expenditures $25 million, including
\ncapital expenditures of $NA (1987)<\/p>\n
Exports: $15 million (f.o.b., 1987);
\ncommodities–cashews, fish, peanuts, palm kernels;
\npartners–Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Cape Verde, China<\/p>\n
Imports: $49 million (f.o.b., 1987);
\ncommodities–capital equipment, consumer goods, semiprocessed goods,
\nfoods, petroleum;
\npartners–Portugal, USSR, EC countries, other Europe, Senegal, US<\/p>\n
External debt: $465 million (December 1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Industrial production: growth rate – 1.7% (1986 est.)<\/p>\n
Electricity: 22,000 kW capacity; 28 million kWh produced,
\n30 kWh per capita (1989)<\/p>\n
Industries: agricultural processing, beer, soft drinks<\/p>\n
Agriculture: accounts for over 50% of GDP, nearly 100% of exports,
\nand 80% of employment; rice is the staple food; other crops include
\ncorn, beans, cassava, cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, and cotton; not
\nself-sufficient in food; fishing and forestry potential not fully
\nexploited<\/p>\n
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $46 million; Western
\n(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $519 million;
\nOPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $41 million; Communist countries (1970-88),
\n$68 million<\/p>\n
Currency: Guinea-Bissauan peso (plural–pesos);
\n1 Guinea-Bissauan peso (PG) = 100 centavos<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: Guinea-Bissauan pesos (PG) per US$1–650 pesos
\n(December 1989), NA (1988), 851.65 (1987), 238.98 (1986), 173.61 (1985)<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: calendar year<\/p>\n
Communications
\nHighways: 3,218 km; 2,698 km bituminous, remainder earth<\/p>\n
Inland waterways: scattered stretches are important to coastal commerce<\/p>\n
Ports: Bissau<\/p>\n
Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft<\/p>\n
Airports: 37 total, 18 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways;
\nnone with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
\n5 with runways 1,220-2,439 m<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: poor system of radio relay, open-wire lines,
\nand radiocommunications; 3,000 telephones; stations–1 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV; 1
\nAtlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nBranches: People’s Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP); Army, Navy, and Air
\nForce are separate components<\/p>\n
Military manpower: males 15-49, 215,552; 122,824 fit for military service<\/p>\n
Defense expenditures: 3.2% of GDP (1987)
\n.pa
\nGuyana
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 214,970 km2; land area: 196,850 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly smaller than Idaho<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: 2,462 km total; Brazil 1,119 km, Suriname 600 km,
\nVenezuela 743 km<\/p>\n
Coastline: 459 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Continental shelf: outer edge of continental margin or 200 nm;<\/p>\n
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 12 nm<\/p>\n
Disputes: Essequibo area claimed by Venezuela; Suriname claims area
\nbetween New (Upper Courantyne) and Courantyne\/Kutari Rivers (all headwaters
\nof the Courantyne)<\/p>\n
Climate: tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds;
\ntwo rainy seasons (May to mid-August, mid-November to mid-January)<\/p>\n
Terrain: mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south<\/p>\n
Natural resources: bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber,
\nshrimp, fish<\/p>\n
Land use: 3% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 6% meadows and
\npastures; 83% forest and woodland; 8% other; includes 1% irrigated<\/p>\n
Environment: flash floods a constant threat during rainy seasons;
\nwater pollution<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 764,649 (July 1990), growth rate – 0.1% (1990)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 24 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 6 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: – 19 migrants\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 40 deaths\/1,000 live births (1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 65 years male, 70 years female (1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 2.7 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: noun–Guyanese (sing., pl.); adjective–Guyanese<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: 51% East Indian, 43% black and mixed, 4% Amerindian, 2%
\nEuropean and Chinese<\/p>\n
Religion: 57% Christian, 33% Hindu, 9% Muslim, 1% other<\/p>\n
Language: English, Amerindian dialects<\/p>\n
Literacy: 85%<\/p>\n
Labor force: 268,000; 44.5% industry and commerce, 33.8% agriculture,
\n21.7% services; public-sector employment amounts to 60-80% of the total labor
\nforce (1985)<\/p>\n
Organized labor: 34% of labor force<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: Co-operative Republic of Guyana<\/p>\n
Type: republic<\/p>\n
Capital: Georgetown<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: 10 regions; Barima-Waini, Cuyuni-Mazaruni,
\nDemerara-Mahaica, East Berbice-Corentyne, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara,
\nMahaica-Berbice, Pomeroon-Supenaam, Potaro-Siparuni, Upper Demerara-Berbice,
\nUpper Takutu-Upper Essequibo<\/p>\n
Independence: 26 May 1966 (from UK; formerly British Guiana)<\/p>\n
Constitution: 6 October 1980<\/p>\n
Legal system: based on English common law with certain admixtures of
\nRoman-Dutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction<\/p>\n
National holiday: Republic Day, 23 February (1970)<\/p>\n
Executive branch: executive president, first vice president,
\nprime minister, first deputy prime minister, Cabinet<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Judicature<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nChief of State–President Hugh Desmond HOYTE (since 6 August 1985);
\nFirst Vice President Hamilton GREEN (since 6 August 1985);<\/p>\n
Head of Government–Prime Minister Hamilton GREEN (since 6 August 1985)<\/p>\n
Political parties and leaders: People’s National Congress (PNC), Hugh
\nDesmond Hoyte; People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Cheddi Jagan; Working People’s
\nAlliance (WPA), Eusi Kwayana, Rupert Roopnarine, Moses Bhagwan; Democratic Labor
\nMovement (DLM), Paul Tennassee; People’s Democratic Movement (PDM),
\nLlewellyn John; National Democratic Front (NDF), Joseph Bacchus; United Force
\n(UF), Marcellus Feilden Singh; Vanguard for Liberation and Democracy (VLD,
\nalso known as Liberator Party), Gunraj Kumar, J. K. Makepeace Richmond<\/p>\n
Suffrage: universal at age 18<\/p>\n
Elections:
\nExecutive President–last held on 9 December 1985 (next to be
\nheld late 1990); Hugh Desmond Hoyte was elected president (the leader
\nof the party with the most votes in the National Assembly
\nelections–PNC 78%);<\/p>\n
National Assembly–last held on 9 December 1985 (next to be held
\nby 9 December 1990);
\nresults–PNC 78%, PPP 16%, UF 4%, WPA 2%;
\nseats–(65 total, 53 elected) PNC 42, PPP 8, UF 2, WPA 1<\/p>\n
Communists: 100 (est.) hardcore within PPP; top echelons of PPP and PYO
\n(Progressive Youth Organization, militant wing of the PPP) include many
\nCommunists; small but unknown number of orthodox Marxist-Leninists within PNC,
\nsome of whom formerly belonged to the PPP<\/p>\n
Other political or pressure groups: Trades Union Congress (TUC);
\nGuyana Council of Indian Organizations (GCIO); Civil Liberties Action Committee
\n(CLAC); the latter two organizations are small and active but not well organized<\/p>\n
Member of: ACP, CARICOM, CCC, CDB, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IBA, IBRD, ICAO,
\nICJ, IDA, IDB–Inter-American Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
\nINTERPOL, IRC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), PAHO, SELA, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU,
\nWHO, WMO<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Dr. Cedric Hilburn GRANT;
\nChancery at 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 265-6900;
\nthere is a Guyanese Consulate General in New York;
\nUS–Ambassador Theresa A. TULL; Embassy at 31 Main Street, Georgetown;
\ntelephone \u00d5592\u00e5 (02) 54900 through 54909<\/p>\n
Flag: green with a red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side)
\nsuperimposed on a long yellow arrowhead; there is a narrow black border between
\nthe red and yellow, and a narrow white border between the yellow and the green<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: After growing on average at less than 1% a year in 1984-87,
\nGDP dropped by 3% in 1988, the result of bad weather, labor trouble in the
\ncanefields, and flooding and equipment problems in the bauxite industry.
\nConsumer prices rose about 35%, and the current account deficit widened
\nsubstantially as sugar and bauxite exports fell. Moreover, electric power
\nis in short supply and constitutes a major barrier to future gains in
\nnational output. The government, in association with international financial
\nagencies, seeks to reduce its payment arrears and to raise new funds. The
\ngovernment’s stabilization program–aimed at establishing realistic
\nexchange rates, reasonable price stability, and a resumption of
\ngrowth–requires considerable public administrative abilities and
\ncontinued patience by consumers during a long incubation period.<\/p>\n
GDP: $323 million, per capita $420; real growth rate – 3.0% (1988 est.)<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 35% (1988 est.)<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: NA%<\/p>\n
Budget: revenues $173 million; expenditures $414 million, including
\ncapital expenditures of $75 million (1988 est.)<\/p>\n
Exports: $215 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.)
\ncommodities–bauxite, sugar, rice, shrimp, gold, molasses, timber, rum;
\npartners–UK 37%, US 12%, Canada 10.6%, CARICOM 4.8% (1986)<\/p>\n
Imports: $216 million (c.i.f., 1988 est.);
\ncommodities–manufactures machinery, food, petroleum;
\npartners–CARICOM 41%, US 18%, UK 9%, Canada 3% (1984)<\/p>\n
External debt: $1.8 billion, including arrears (December 1988)<\/p>\n
Industrial production: growth rate – 5.0% (1988 est.)<\/p>\n
Electricity: 221,000 kW capacity; 583 million kWh produced,
\n760 kWh per capita (1989)<\/p>\n
Industries: bauxite mining, sugar, rice milling, timber, fishing (shrimp),
\ntextiles, gold mining<\/p>\n
Agriculture: most important sector, accounting for 25% of GDP and over 50%
\nof exports; sugar and rice are key crops; development potential exists for
\nfishing and forestry; not self-sufficient in food, especially wheat, vegetable
\noils, and animal products<\/p>\n
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $109 million; Western
\n(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $234 million;
\nCommunist countries (1970-88), $242 million<\/p>\n
Currency: Guyanese dollar (plural–dollars);
\n1 Guyanese dollar (G$) = 100 cents<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: Guyanese dollars (G$) per US$1–33.0000 (January 1990),
\n27.159 (1989), 10.000 (1988), 9.756 (1987), 4.272 (1986), 4.252 (1985)<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: calendar year<\/p>\n
Communications
\nRailroads: 187 km total, all single track 0.914-meter gauge<\/p>\n
Highways: 7,665 km total; 550 km paved, 5,000 km gravel, 1,525 km earth,
\n590 km unimproved<\/p>\n
Inland waterways: 6,000 km total of navigable waterways; Berbice,
\nDemerara, and Essequibo Rivers are navigable by oceangoing vessels for 150 km,
\n100 km, and 80 km, respectively<\/p>\n
Ports: Georgetown<\/p>\n
Civil air: 5 major transport aircraft<\/p>\n
Airports: 66 total, 63 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways;
\nnone with runways over 2,439 m; 12 with runways 1,220-2,439 m<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: fair system with radio relay network; over 27,000
\ntelephones; tropospheric scatter link to Trinidad; stations–4 AM, 3 FM, no TV,
\n1 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nBranches: Guyana Defense Force (including Maritime Corps and Air Corps),
\nGuyana Police Force, Guyana People’s Militia, Guyana National Service<\/p>\n
Military manpower: males 15-49, 201,104; 152,958 fit for military service<\/p>\n
Defense expenditures: 4.3% of GDP, or $13.8 million (1988 est.)
\n.pa
\nHaiti
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 27,750 km2; land area: 27,560 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland<\/p>\n
Land boundary: 275 km with the Dominican Republic<\/p>\n
Coastline: 1,771 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Contiguous zone: 24 nm;<\/p>\n
Continental shelf: to depth of exploitation;<\/p>\n
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 12 nm<\/p>\n
Disputes: claims US-administered Navassa Island<\/p>\n
Climate: tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds<\/p>\n
Terrain: mostly rough and mountainous<\/p>\n
Natural resources: bauxite<\/p>\n
Land use: 20% arable land; 13% permanent crops; 18% meadows and pastures;
\n4% forest and woodland; 45% other; includes 3% irrigated<\/p>\n
Environment: lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to
\nsevere storms from June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes;
\ndeforestation<\/p>\n
Note: shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 6,142,141 (July 1990), growth rate 2.3% (1990)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 45 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 16 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: – 6 migrants\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 107 deaths\/1,000 live births (1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 52 years male, 55 years female (1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 6.4 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: noun–Haitian(s); adjective–Haitian<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: 95% black, 5% mulatto and European<\/p>\n
Religion: 75-80% Roman Catholic (of which an overwhelming majority also
\npractice Voodoo), 10% Protestant<\/p>\n
Language: French (official) spoken by only 10% of population; all speak
\nCreole<\/p>\n
Literacy: 23%<\/p>\n
Labor force: 2,300,000; 66% agriculture, 25% services, 9% industry;
\nshortage of skilled labor, unskilled labor abundant (1982)<\/p>\n
Organized labor: NA<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: Republic of Haiti<\/p>\n
Type: republic<\/p>\n
Capital: Port-au-Prince<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: 9 departments, (departements,
\nsingular–departement); Artibonite, Centre, Grand’Anse, Nord, Nord-Est,
\nNord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est<\/p>\n
Independence: 1 January 1804 (from France)<\/p>\n
Constitution: 27 August 1983, suspended February 1986; draft
\nconstitution approved March 1987, suspended June 1988, most articles
\nreinstated March 1989<\/p>\n
Legal system: based on Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
\njurisdiction<\/p>\n
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 January (1804)<\/p>\n
Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly (Assemblee
\nNationale) consisted of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or
\nHouse of Representatives, but was dissolved on 20 June 1988 after the
\ncoup of 19 June 1988 (there was a subsequent coup on 18 September 1988);
\nafter naming a civilian as provisional president on 13 March 1990, it
\nwas announced that a Council of State was being formed<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal (Cour de Cassation)<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nChief of State and Head of Government–Provisional President
\nErtha PASCAL-TROUILLOT (since 13 March 1990)<\/p>\n
Political parties and leaders: Haitian Christian Democratic Party (PDCH),
\nSylvio Claude; Haitian Social Christian Party (PSCH), Gregoire Eugene;
\nMovement for the Installation of Democracy in Haiti (MIDH), Marc Bazin;
\nNational Alliance Front (FNC), Gerard Gourgue; National Agricultural and
\nIndustrial Party (PAIN), Louis Dejoie; Congress of Democratic Movements
\n(CONACOM), Victor Bono; National Progressive Revolutionary Party (PANPRA),
\nSerge Gilles; National Patriotic Movement of November 28 (MNP-28), Dejean
\nBelizaire; Movement for the Organization of the Country (MOP), Gesner Comeau;
\nMobilization for National Development (MDN), Hubert De Ronceray<\/p>\n
Suffrage: none<\/p>\n
Elections:
\nPresident–last held 17 January 1988 (next to be held
\nby mid-June 1990); on 13 March 1990 Ertha Pascal-Trouillot
\nbecame provisional president after the resignation of President
\nLieut. Gen Prosper Avril;<\/p>\n
Legislature–last held 17 January 1988, but dissolved on
\n20 June 1988; the government has promised an election by
\nmid-June 1990<\/p>\n
Communists: United Party of Haitian Communists (PUCH), Rene Theodore
\n(roughly 2,000 members)<\/p>\n
Other political or pressure groups: Democratic Unity Confederation (KID),
\nRoman Catholic Church, Confederation of Haitian Workers (CTH),
\nFederation of Workers Trade Unions (FOS), Autonomous Haitian Workers
\n(CATH), National Popular Assembly (APN)<\/p>\n
Member of: CCC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBA, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDA,
\nIDB–Inter-American Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
\nINTERPOL, IRC, ITU, OAS, PAHO, SELA, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador (vacant), Charge
\nd’Affaires Fritz VOUGY; Chancery at 2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW,
\nWashington DC 20008; telephone (202) 332-4090 through 4092; there
\nare Haitian Consulates General in Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York,
\nand San Juan (Puerto Rico);
\nUS–Ambassador Alvin ADAMS; Embassy at Harry Truman
\nBoulevard, Port-au-Prince (mailing address is P. O. Box 1761, Port-au-Prince),
\ntelephone \u00d5509\u00e5 (1) 20354 or 20368, 20200, 20612<\/p>\n
Flag: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a centered
\nwhite rectangle bearing the coat of arms which contains a palm tree flanked by
\nflags and two cannons above a scroll bearing the motto
\nL’UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength)<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: About 85% of the population live in absolute poverty.
\nAgriculture is mainly small-scale subsistence farming and employs 65% of
\nthe work force. The majority of the population does not have ready access
\nto safe drinking water, adequate medical care, or sufficient food. Few social
\nassistance programs exist, and the lack of employment opportunities remains the
\nmost critical problem facing the economy.<\/p>\n
GDP: $2.4 billion, per capita $380; real growth rate 0.3% (1988
\nest.)<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.8% (1988)<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: 50% (1988 est.)<\/p>\n
Budget: revenues $252 million; expenditures $357 million, including
\ncapital expenditures of $NA million (1988)<\/p>\n
Exports: $200 million (f.o.b., FY88);
\ncommodities–light manufactures 65%, coffee 17%, other agriculture 8%,
\nother products 10%;
\npartners–US 77%, France 5%, Italy 4%, FRG 3%, other industrial 9%,
\nless developed countries 2% (FY86)<\/p>\n
Imports: $344 million (c.i.f., FY88);
\ncommodities–machines and manufactures 36%, food and beverages 21%,
\npetroleum products 11%, fats and oils 12%, chemicals 12%;
\npartners–US 65%, Netherlands Antilles 6%, Japan 5%, France 4%, Canada 2%,
\nAsia 2% (FY86)<\/p>\n
External debt: $820 million (December 1988)<\/p>\n
Industrial production: growth rate – 2% (FY87)<\/p>\n
Electricity: 230,000 kW capacity; 482 million kWh produced,
\n75 kWh per capita (1989)<\/p>\n
Industries: sugar refining, textiles, flour milling, cement manufacturing,
\nbauxite mining, tourism, light assembly industries based on imported parts<\/p>\n
Agriculture: accounts for 32% of GDP and employs 65% of work force; mostly
\nsmall-scale subsistence farms; commercial crops–coffee and sugarcane; staple
\ncrops–rice, corn, sorghum, mangoes; shortage of wheat flour<\/p>\n
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $638 million; Western
\n(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $627 million<\/p>\n
Currency: gourde (plural–gourdes); 1 gourde (G) = 100 centimes<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: gourdes (G) per US$1– 5.0 (fixed rate)<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September<\/p>\n
Communications
\nRailroads: 40 km 0.760-meter narrow gauge, single-track, privately owned
\nindustrial line<\/p>\n
Highways: 4,000 km total; 950 km paved, 900 km otherwise improved, 2,150
\nkm unimproved<\/p>\n
Inland waterways: negligible; less than 100 km navigable<\/p>\n
Ports: Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haitien<\/p>\n
Civil air: 4 major transport aircraft<\/p>\n
Airports: 15 total, 10 usable; 3 with permanent-surface runways;
\nnone with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 4 with
\nrunways 1,220-2,439 m<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: domestic facilities barely adequate, international
\nfacilities slightly better; 36,000 telephones; stations–33 AM, no FM, 4 TV,
\n2 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean earth station<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nBranches: Army, Navy, Air Corps<\/p>\n
Military manpower: males 15-49, 1,264,238; 679,209 fit for military
\nservice; 59,655 reach military age (18) annually<\/p>\n
Defense expenditures: NA
\n.pa
\nHeard Island and McDonald Islands
\n(territory of Australia)
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 412 km2; land area: 412 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly less than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: none<\/p>\n
Coastline: 101.9 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Contiguous zone: 12 nm;<\/p>\n
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploration;<\/p>\n
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 3 nm<\/p>\n
Climate: antarctic<\/p>\n
Terrain: Heard Island–bleak and mountainous, with an extinct
\nvolcano; McDonald Islands–small and rocky<\/p>\n
Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and
\npastures; 0% forest and woodland; 100% other<\/p>\n
Environment: primarily used as research stations<\/p>\n
Note: located 4,100 km southwest of Australia in the
\nsouthern Indian Ocean<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: uninhabited<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands<\/p>\n
Type: territory of Australia administered by the Antarctic Division
\nof the Department of Science in Canberra (Australia)<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: no economic activity<\/p>\n
Communications
\nPorts: none; offshore anchorage only<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nNote: defense is the responsibility of Australia
\n.pa
\nHonduras
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 112,090 km2; land area: 111,890 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly larger than Tennessee<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: 1,520 km total; Guatemala 256 km, El Salvador 342
\nkm, Nicaragua 922 km<\/p>\n
Coastline: 820 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Contiguous zone: 24 nm;<\/p>\n
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation;<\/p>\n
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 12 nm<\/p>\n
Disputes: several sections of the boundary with El Salvador are in dispute<\/p>\n
Climate: subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains<\/p>\n
Terrain: mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains<\/p>\n
Natural resources: timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc,
\niron ore, antimony, coal, fish<\/p>\n
Land use: 14% arable land; 2% permanent crops; 30% meadows and pastures;
\n34% forest and woodland; 20% other; includes 1% irrigated<\/p>\n
Environment: subject to frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes;
\ndamaging hurricanes along Caribbean coast; deforestation; soil erosion<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 5,259,699 (July 1990), growth rate 3.0% (1990)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 37 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 7 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: 0 migrants\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 62 deaths\/1,000 live births (1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 64 years male, 67 years female (1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 4.8 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: noun–Honduran(s); adjective–Honduran<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: 90% mestizo (mixed Indian and European), 7% Indian, 2%
\nblack, 1% white<\/p>\n
Religion: about 97% Roman Catholic; small Protestant minority<\/p>\n
Language: Spanish, Indian dialects<\/p>\n
Literacy: 56%<\/p>\n
Labor force: 1,300,000; 62% agriculture, 20% services, 9% manufacturing,
\n3% construction, 6% other (1985)<\/p>\n
Organized labor: 40% of urban labor force, 20% of rural work force (1985)<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: Republic of Honduras<\/p>\n
Type: republic<\/p>\n
Capital: Tegucigalpa<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: 18 departments (departamentos,
\nsingular–departamento); Atlantida, Choluteca, Colon, Comayagua, Copan,
\nCortes, El Paraiso, Francisco Morazan, Gracias a Dios, Intibuca,
\nIslas de la Bahia, La Paz, Lempira, Ocotepeque, Olancho, Santa Barbara,
\nValle, Yoro<\/p>\n
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)<\/p>\n
Constitution: 11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982<\/p>\n
Legal system: rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law; some influence of
\nEnglish common law; accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations<\/p>\n
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)<\/p>\n
Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: unicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justica)<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nChief of State and Head of Government–Rafael Leonardo CALLEJAS
\nRomero (since 26 January 1990)<\/p>\n
Political parties and leaders: Liberal Party (PLH)–faction leaders,
\nCarlos Flores Facusse (leader of Florista Liberal Movement), Carlos Montoya
\n(Azconista subfaction), Ramon Villeda Bermudez and Jorge Arturo Reina (M-Lider
\nfaction); National Party (PNH), Ricardo Maduro, party president; PNH
\nfaction leaders–Oswaldo Ramos Soto and Rafael Leonardo Callejas
\n(Monarca faction); National Innovation and Unity Party-Social
\nDemocrats (PINU-SD), Enrique Aguilar Cerrato Paz; Christian Democratic
\nParty (PDCH), Jorge Illescas; Democratic Action (AD), Walter Lopez
\nReyes<\/p>\n
Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18<\/p>\n
Elections:
\nPresident–last held on 26 November 1989 (next to be held
\nNovember 1993);
\nresults–Leonardo Rafael Callejas (PNH) 51%,
\nJose Azcona Hoyo (PLH) 43.3%, others 5.7%;<\/p>\n
National Congress–last held on 24 November 1985 (next to be held
\nNovember 1993);
\nresults–PLH 51%, PNH 45%, PDCH 1.9%, PINU 1.5%, others 0.65;
\nseats–(134 total) PLH 62, PNH 71, PINU 1<\/p>\n
Communists: up to 1,500; Honduran leftist groups–Communist Party of
\nHonduras (PCH), Party for the Transformation of Honduras (PTH),
\nMorazanist Front for the Liberation of Honduras (FMLH), People’s
\nRevolutionary Union\/Popular Liberation Movement (URP\/MPL), Popular
\nRevolutionary Forces-Lorenzo Zelaya (FPR\/LZ), Socialist Party of Honduras
\nCentral American Workers Revolutionary Party (PASO\/PRTC)<\/p>\n
Other political or pressure groups: National Association of Honduran
\nCampesinos (ANACH), Honduran Council of Private Enterprise (COHEP),
\nConfederation of Honduran Workers (CTH), National Union of Campesinos (UNC),
\nGeneral Workers Confederation (CGT), United Federation of Honduran Workers
\n(FUTH), Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in Honduras (CODEH),
\nCoordinating Committee of Popular Organizations (CCOP)<\/p>\n
Member of: CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDA,
\nIDB–Inter-American Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
\nINTERPOL, ISO, ITU, OAS, PAHO, SELA, UN, UNESCO, UPEB, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Jorge Ramon HERNANDEZ Alcerro;
\nChancery at Suite 100, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008;
\ntelephone (202) 966-7700 through 7702; there are Honduran Consulates General
\nin Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco,
\nand Consulates in Baton Rouge, Boston, Detroit, Houston, and Jacksonville;
\nUS–Ambassador Crescencio ARCOS; Embassy at Avenida La Paz,
\nTegucigalpa (mailing address is APO Miami 34022); telephone \u00d5504\u00e5 32-3120<\/p>\n
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with
\nfive blue five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the
\nwhite band; the stars represent the members of the former Federal Republic of
\nCentral America–Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua;
\nsimilar to the flag of El Salvador which features a round emblem encircled by
\nthe words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the
\nwhite band; also similar to the flag of Nicaragua which features a triangle
\nencircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA
\nCENTRAL on the bottom, centered in the white band<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: Honduras is one of the poorest countries in the Western
\nHemisphere. Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy, accounting
\nfor nearly 30% of GDP, employing 62% of the labor force, and producing
\ntwo-thirds of exports. Productivity remains low, however, leaving considerable
\nroom for improvement. Although industry is still in its early stages, it employs
\nnearly 15% of the labor force, accounts for 23% of GDP, and generates 20% of
\nexports. The service sectors, including public administration, account for 48%
\nof GDP and employ nearly 20% of the labor force. Basic problems facing the
\neconomy include a high population growth rate, a high unemployment rate, a lack
\nof basic services, a large and inefficient public sector, and an export sector
\ndependent mostly on coffee and bananas, which are subject to sharp price
\nfluctuations.<\/p>\n
GDP: $4.4 billion, per capita $890; real growth rate 4.0% (1988)<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 11% (1989)<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: 12% unemployed, 30-40% underemployed (1988)<\/p>\n
Budget: revenues $1,053 million; expenditures $949 million, including
\ncapital expenditures of $159 million (1989)<\/p>\n
Exports: $1.0 billion (f.o.b., 1988);
\ncommodities–bananas, coffee, shrimp, lobster, minerals, lumber;
\npartners–US 52%, FRG 11%, Japan, Italy, Belgium<\/p>\n
Imports: $1.4 billion (c.i.f. 1988);
\ncommodities–machinery and transport equipment, chemical products,
\nmanufactured goods, fuel and oil, foodstuffs;
\npartners–US 39%, Japan 9%, CACM, Venezuela, Mexico<\/p>\n
External debt: $3.2 billion (December 1989)<\/p>\n
Industrial production: growth rate 5% (1988)<\/p>\n
Electricity: 655,000 kW capacity; 1,980 million kWh produced,
\n390 kWh per capita (1989)<\/p>\n
Industries: agricultural processing (sugar and coffee), textiles,
\nclothing, wood products<\/p>\n
Agriculture: most important sector, accounting for nearly 30% of
\nGDP, over 60% of the labor force, and two-thirds of exports; principal
\nproducts include bananas, coffee, timber, beef, citrus fruit, shrimp;
\nimporter of wheat<\/p>\n
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, cultivated on
\nsmall plots and used principally for local consumption; transshipment
\npoint for cocaine<\/p>\n
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $1.3 billion; Western
\n(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $776 million<\/p>\n
Currency: lempira (plural–lempiras); 1 lempira (L) = 100 centavos<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: lempiras (L) per US$1–2.00 (fixed rate); 3.50 parallel
\nexchange and black-market rate (October 1989)<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: calendar year<\/p>\n
Communications
\nRailroads: 785 km total; 508 km 1.067-meter gauge, 277 km 0.914-meter
\ngauge<\/p>\n
Highways: 8,950 km total; 1,700 km paved, 5,000 km otherwise improved,
\n2,250 km unimproved earth<\/p>\n
Inland waterways: 465 km navigable by small craft<\/p>\n
Ports: Puerto Castilla, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo<\/p>\n
Merchant marine: 149 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 438,495
\nGRT\/660,990 DWT; includes 2 passenger-cargo, 87 cargo, 12 refrigerated
\ncargo, 9 container, 1 roll-on\/roll-off cargo, 17 petroleum, oils, and
\nlubricants (POL) tanker, 2 liquefied gas, 1 specialized tanker, 1 vehicle
\ncarrier, 17 bulk; note–a flag of convenience registry<\/p>\n
Civil air: 9 major transport aircraft<\/p>\n
Airports: 180 total, 140 usable; 8 with permanent-surface runways;
\nnone with runways over 3,659 m; 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 12 with
\nrunways 1,220-2,439 m<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: improved, but still inadequate; connection into
\nCentral American Microwave System; 35,100 telephones; stations–176 AM, no FM,
\n28 TV, 7 shortwave; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nBranches: Armed Forces, Naval Forces, Air Force<\/p>\n
Military manpower: males 15-49, 1,222,858; 727,851 fit for military
\nservice; 61,493 reach military age (18) annually<\/p>\n
Defense expenditures: 1.9% of GDP, or $82.5 million (1990 est.)
\n.pa
\nHong Kong
\n(colony of the UK)
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 1,040 km2; land area: 990 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly less than six times the size of Washington, DC<\/p>\n
Land boundary: 30 km with China<\/p>\n
Coastline: 733 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation;<\/p>\n
Exclusive fishing zone: 3 nm;<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 3 nm<\/p>\n
Disputes: scheduled to become a Special Administrative Region of China
\nin 1997<\/p>\n
Climate: tropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from
\nspring through summer, warm and sunny in fall<\/p>\n
Terrain: hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north<\/p>\n
Natural resources: outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar<\/p>\n
Land use: 7% arable land; 1% permanent crops; 1% meadows and pastures;
\n12% forest and woodland; 79% other; includes 3% irrigated<\/p>\n
Environment: more than 200 islands; occasional typhoons<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 5,759,990 (July 1990), growth rate 1.0% (1990)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 13 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 5 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: 2 migrants\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths\/1,000 live births (1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 76 years male, 82 years female (1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 1.4 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: adjective–Hong Kong<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: 98% Chinese, 2% other<\/p>\n
Religion: 90% eclectic mixture of local religions, 10% Christian<\/p>\n
Language: Chinese (Cantonese), English<\/p>\n
Literacy: 75%<\/p>\n
Labor force: 2,640,000; 35.8% manufacturing; 22.7% wholesale and retail
\ntrade, restaurants and hotel, 17.1% services, 7.5% construction, 8.4% transport
\nand communications, 6.1% financing, insurance, and real estate (1986)<\/p>\n
Organized labor: 15% of labor force (1986)<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: none; abbreviated HK<\/p>\n
Type: colony of the UK; scheduled to revert to China in 1997<\/p>\n
Capital: Victoria<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: none (colony of the UK)<\/p>\n
Independence: none (colony of the UK); the UK signed an agreement
\nwith China on 19 December 1984 to return Hong Kong to China on 1 July 1997;
\nin the joint declaration, China promises to respect Hong Kong’s existing
\nsocial and economic systems and lifestyle for 50 years after transition<\/p>\n
Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice<\/p>\n
Legal system: based on English common law<\/p>\n
National holiday: Liberation Day, 29 August (1945)<\/p>\n
Executive branch: British monarch, governor, chief secretary of the
\nExecutive Council<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: Legislative Council<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: Supreme Court<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nChief of State–Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);<\/p>\n
Head of Government–Governor Sir David Clive WILSON (since 9 April 1987);
\nChief Secretary Sir David Robert FORD (since NA February 1987)<\/p>\n
Political parties: none<\/p>\n
Suffrage: limited to about 71,000 professionals of electoral college and
\nfunctional constituencies<\/p>\n
Elections:
\nLegislative Council–indirect elections last held 26 September 1985
\n(next to be held in September 1991)
\nseats–(58 total; 26 elected, 32 appointed)<\/p>\n
Communists: 5,000 (est.) cadres affiliated with Communist Party of China<\/p>\n
Other political or pressure groups: Federation of Trade Unions (Communist
\ncontrolled), Hong Kong and Kowloon Trade Union Council (Nationalist Chinese
\ndominated), Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, Chinese General Chamber of
\nCommerce (Communist controlled), Federation of Hong Kong Industries, Chinese
\nManufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Professional Teachers’
\nUnion, and several small pro-democracy groups.<\/p>\n
Member of: ADB, ESCAP (associate member), GATT, IMO, INTERPOL, Multifiber
\nArrangement, WMO<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: as a British colony, the interests
\nof Hong Kong in the US are represented by the UK;
\nUS–Consul General Donald M. ANDERSON; Consulate General at
\n26 Garden Road, Hong Kong (mailing address is Box 30, Hong Kong, or
\nFPO San Francisco 96659-0002); telephone \u00d5852\u00e5 (5) 239011<\/p>\n
Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with
\nthe Hong Kong coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer half of the
\nflag; the coat of arms contains a shield (bearing two junks below a
\ncrown) held by a lion (representing the UK) and a dragon (representing China)
\nwith another lion above the shield and a banner bearing the words
\nHONG KONG below the shield<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: Hong Kong has a free-market economy and is autonomous in
\nfinancial affairs. Natural resources are limited and food and raw materials must
\nbe imported. Manufacturing is the backbone of the economy, accounting
\nfor more than 20% of GDP, employing 36% of the labor force, and exporting about
\n90% of output. Real GDP growth averaged a remakable 8% in 1987-88, then
\nslowed to a respectable 3% in 1989. Unemployment, which has been declining since
\nthe mid-1980s, is now less than 2%. A shortage of labor continues to put upward
\npressure on prices and the cost of living. Short-term prospects remain
\nsolid so long as major trading partners continue to be prosperous. The
\ncrackdown in China in 1989 casts a long shadow over the longer term
\neconomic outlook.<\/p>\n
GDP: $57 billion, per capita $10,000; real growth rate 3% (1989)<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.5% (1989)<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: 1.6% (1988)<\/p>\n
Budget: $6.9 billion (FY89)<\/p>\n
Exports: $63.2 billion (f.o.b., 1988), including reexports of
\n$22.9 billion;
\ncommodities–clothing, textile yarn and fabric, footwear, electrical
\nappliances, watches and clocks, toys;
\npartners–US 31%, China 14%, FRG 8%, UK 6%, Japan 5%<\/p>\n
Imports: $63.9 billion (c.i.f., 1988);
\ncommodities–foodstuffs, transport equipment, raw materials,
\nsemimanufactures, petroleum;
\npartners–China 31%, Japan 20%, Taiwan 9%, US 8%<\/p>\n
External debt: $9.6 billion (December 1988)<\/p>\n
Industrial production: growth rate 7.0% (1988)<\/p>\n
Electricity: 7,800,000 kW capacity; 23,000 million kWh produced,
\n4,030 kWh per capita (1989)<\/p>\n
Industries: textiles, clothing, tourism, electronics, plastics, toys,
\nwatches, clocks<\/p>\n
Agriculture: minor role in the economy; rice, vegetables, dairy products;
\nless than 20% self-sufficient; shortages of rice, wheat, water<\/p>\n
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $141.2 million;
\nWestern (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87),
\n$899.8 million<\/p>\n
Currency: Hong Kong dollar (plural–dollars);
\n1 Hong Kong dollar (HK$) = 100 cents<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: Hong Kong dollars (HK$) per US$–7.800 (March 1989),
\n7.810 (1988), 7.760 (1987), 7.795 (1986), 7.811 (1985); note–linked to the
\nUS dollar at the rate of about 7.8 HK$ per 1 US$ since 1985<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March<\/p>\n
Communications
\nRailroads: 35 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, government owned<\/p>\n
Highways: 1,100 km total; 794 km paved, 306 km gravel, crushed stone,
\nor earth<\/p>\n
Ports: Hong Kong<\/p>\n
Merchant marine: 134 ships (1,000 GRT or over), totaling 4,391,102
\nGRT\/7,430,337 DWT; includes 1 passenger, 1 short-sea passenger, 11 cargo,
\n10 refrigerated cargo, 13 container, 2 roll-on\/roll-off cargo, 10 petroleum,
\noils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 9 combination ore\/oil,
\n7 liquefied gas, 69 bulk; note–a flag of convenience registry; ships registered
\nin Hong Kong fly the UK flag and an estimated 500 Hong Kong-owned ships are
\nregistered elsewhere<\/p>\n
Civil air: 16 major transport aircraft<\/p>\n
Airports: 2 total; 2 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways;
\nnone with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
\nnone with runways 1,220-2,439 m<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: modern facilities provide excellent domestic and
\ninternational services; 2,300,000 telephones; microwave transmission links and
\nextensive optical fiber transmission network; stations–6 AM, 6 FM, 4
\nTV; 1 British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) relay station and 1 British
\nForces Broadcasting Service relay station; 2,500,000 radio receivers;
\n1,312,000 TV sets (1,224,000 color TV sets);
\nsatellite earth stations–1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT and 2 Indian Ocean
\nINTELSAT; coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China; links to 5 international
\nsubmarine cables providing access to ASEAN member nations, Japan,
\nTaiwan, Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nBranches: Headquarters of British Forces, Gurkha Brigade, Royal Navy,
\nRoyal Air Force, Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force, Royal Hong Kong Police
\nForce<\/p>\n
Military manpower: males 15-49, 1,703,890; 1,320,914 fit for military
\nservice; 46,440 reach military age (18) annually<\/p>\n
Defense expenditures: 0.5% of GDP, or $300 million (1989 est.);
\nthis represents one-fourth of the total cost of defending the colony,
\nthe remainder being paid by the UK<\/p>\n
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
\n.pa
\nHowland Island
\n(territory of the US)
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 1.6 km2; land area: 1.6 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: about 2.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: none<\/p>\n
Coastline: 6.4 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Contiguous zone: 12 nm;<\/p>\n
Continental shelf: 200 m;<\/p>\n
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 12 nm<\/p>\n
Climate: equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun<\/p>\n
Terrain: low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by
\na narrow fringing reef; depressed central area<\/p>\n
Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)<\/p>\n
Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and
\npastures; 5% forest and woodland; 95% other<\/p>\n
Environment: almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate vines, and
\nlow-growing shrubs; small area of trees in the center; lacks fresh water;
\nprimarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds,
\nand marine wildlife; feral cats<\/p>\n
Note: remote location 2,575 km southwest of Honolulu in the North Pacific
\nOcean, just north of the Equator, about halfway between Hawaii and Australia<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: uninhabited<\/p>\n
Note: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and naval
\nattacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World War II, but
\nabandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use permit only and
\ngenerally restricted to scientists and educators<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: none<\/p>\n
Type: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Fish and
\nWildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National
\nWildlife Refuge System<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: no economic activity<\/p>\n
Communications
\nAirports: airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling stop on
\nthe round-the-world flight of Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan–they left Lae,
\nNew Guinea, for Howland Island, but were never seen again; the airstrip is no
\nlonger serviceable<\/p>\n
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only, one boat landing area along the
\nmiddle of the west coast<\/p>\n
Note: Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast
\nthat was partially destroyed during World War II, but has since been rebuilt in
\nmemory of famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nNote: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually
\nby the US Coast Guard
\n.pa
\nHungary
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 93,030 km2; land area: 92,340 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly smaller than Indiana<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: 2,251 km total; Austria 366 km, Czechoslovakia 676
\nkm, Romania 443 km, USSR 135 km, Yugoslavia 631 km<\/p>\n
Coastline: none–landlocked<\/p>\n
Maritime claims: none–landlocked<\/p>\n
Disputes: Transylvania question with Romania; Nagymaros Dam
\ndispute with Czechoslovakia<\/p>\n
Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers<\/p>\n
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling plains<\/p>\n
Natural resources: bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils<\/p>\n
Land use: 54% arable land; 3% permanent crops; 14% meadows and pastures;
\n18% forest and woodland; 11% other; includes 2% irrigated<\/p>\n
Environment: levees are common along many streams, but flooding occurs
\nalmost every year<\/p>\n
Note: landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes
\nbetween Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between USSR and
\nMediterranean basin<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 10,568,686 (July 1990), growth rate – 0.1% (1990)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 12 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 13 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: 0 migrants\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 15 deaths\/1,000 live births (1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 67 years male, 75 years female (1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: noun–Hungarian(s); adjective–Hungarian<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: 96.6% Hungarian, 1.6% German, 1.1% Slovak, 0.3%
\nSouthern Slav, 0.2% Romanian<\/p>\n
Religion: 67.5% Roman Catholic, 20.0% Calvinist, 5.0% Lutheran, 7.5%
\natheist and other<\/p>\n
Language: 98.2% Hungarian, 1.8% other<\/p>\n
Literacy: 99%<\/p>\n
Labor force: 4,860,000; 43.2% services, trade, government, and other,
\n30.9% industry, 18.8% agriculture, 7.1% construction (1988)<\/p>\n
Organized labor: 96.5% of labor force; Central Council of Hungarian Trade
\nUnions (SZOT) includes 19 affiliated unions, all controlled by the government;
\nindependent unions legal; may be as many as 12 small independent unions
\nin operation<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: Republic of Hungary<\/p>\n
Type: republic<\/p>\n
Capital: Budapest<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: 19 counties (megyek, singular–megye) and
\n1 capital city* (fovaros); Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes,
\nBorsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Budapest*, Csongrad, Fejer, Gyor-Sopron,
\nHajdu-Bihar, Heves, Komarom, Nograd, Pest, Somogy, Szabolcs-Szatmar,
\nSzolnok, Tolna, Vas, Veszprem, Zala<\/p>\n
Independence: 1001, unification by King Stephen I<\/p>\n
Constitution: 18 August 1949, effective 20 August 1949, revised 19 April
\n1972 and 18 October 1989<\/p>\n
Legal system: based on Communist legal theory, with both civil law system
\n(civil code of 1960) and common law elements; Supreme Court renders decisions of
\nprinciple that sometimes have the effect of declaring legislative acts
\nunconstitutional; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction<\/p>\n
National holiday: Anniversary of the Liberation, 4 April (1945)<\/p>\n
Executive branch: president, premier, Council of Ministers<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Orszaggyules)<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: Supreme Court<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nChief of State–President-designate Arpad GONCZ (since
\n2 May 1990);<\/p>\n
Head of Government–Prime Minister Jozsef ANTALL
\n(since 23 May 1990)<\/p>\n
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Forum, Jozsef Antall,
\nchairman; Free Democrats, Janos Kis, chairman; Independent Smallholders,
\nIstvan Prepeliczay, president; Hungarian Socialist Party (MSP), Rezso
\nNyers, chairman; Young Democrats; Christian Democrats, Sandor Keresztes,
\npresident; note–the Hungarian Socialist (Communist) Workers’ Party
\n(MSZMP) renounced Communism and became the Hungarian Socialist Party
\n(MSP) in October 1989<\/p>\n
Suffrage: universal at age 18<\/p>\n
Elections:
\nNational Assembly–last held on 25 March 1990 (first round, with
\nthe second round held 8 April 1990);
\nresults–percent of vote by party NA;
\nseats–(394 total) Democratic Forum 165, Free Democrats 92,
\nIndependent Smallholders 43, Hungarian Socialist Party (MSP) 33,
\nYoung Democrats 21, Christian Democrats 21, independent candidates
\nor jointly sponsored candidates 19; an additional 8 seats
\nwill be given to representatives of minority nationalities<\/p>\n
Communists: fewer than 100,000 (December 1989)<\/p>\n
Member of: CCC, CEMA, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, IBEC, ICAC, ICAO,
\nILO, ILZSG, IMF, IMO, IPU, ISO, ITC, ITU, UN, UNESCO, UPU, Warsaw Pact,
\nWFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Dr. Peter VARKONYI;
\nChancery at 3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone
\n(202) 362-6730;
\nthere is a Hungarian Consulate General in New York;
\nUS–Ambassador-designate Charles THOMAS; Embassy at V. Szabadsag
\nTer 12, Budapest (mailing address is APO New York 09213); telephone \u00d536\u00e5
\n(1) 126-450<\/p>\n
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: Hungary’s postwar Communist government spurred the movement
\nfrom a predominantly agricultural to an industrialized economy. The share
\nof the labor force in agriculture dropped from over 50% in 1950 to under
\n20% in 1989. Agriculture nevertheless remains an important sector,
\nproviding sizable export earnings and meeting domestic food needs.
\nIndustry accounts for about 40% of GNP and 30% of employment. Nearly
\nthree-fourths of foreign trade is with the USSR and Eastern Europe. Low
\nrates of growth reflect the inability of the Soviet-style economy to
\nmodernize capital plant and motivate workers. GNP grew about 1% in 1988
\nand declined by 1% in 1989. Since 1985 external debt has
\nmore than doubled, to nearly $20 billion. In recent years Hungary has
\nmoved further than any other East European country in experimenting with
\ndecentralized and market-oriented enterprises. These experiments have
\nfailed to jump-start the economy because of: limitations on funds for
\nprivatization; continued subsidization of insolvent state enterprises;
\nand the leadership’s reluctance to implement sweeping market reforms
\nthat would cause additional social dislocations in the short term.<\/p>\n
GNP: $64.6 billion, per capita $6,108; real growth rate – 1.3%
\n(1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 18% (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: 0.4% (1989)<\/p>\n
Budget: revenues $14.0 billion; expenditures $14.2 billion, including
\ncapital expenditures of $944 million (1988)<\/p>\n
Exports: $19.1 billion (f.o.b. 1988);
\ncommodities–capital goods 36%, foods 24%, consumer goods 18%, fuels
\nand minerals 11%, other 11%;
\npartners USSR 48%, Eastern Europe 25%, developed countries 16%,
\nless developed countries 8% (1987)<\/p>\n
Imports: $18.3 billion (c.i.f., 1988);
\ncommodities–machinery and transport 28%, fuels 20%, chemical
\nproducts 14%, manufactured consumer goods 16%, agriculture 6%, other
\n16%;
\npartners–USSR 43%, Eastern Europe 28%, less developed countries 23%,
\nUS 3% (1987)<\/p>\n
External debt: $19.6 billion (1989)<\/p>\n
Industrial production: growth rate 0.6% (1988)<\/p>\n
Electricity: 7,250,000 kW capacity; 30,300 million kWh produced,
\n2,870 kWh per capita (1989)<\/p>\n
Industries: mining, metallurgy, engineering industries, processed foods,
\ntextiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals)<\/p>\n
Agriculture: including forestry, accounts for about 15% of GNP and 19% of
\nemployment; highly diversified crop-livestock farming; principal
\ncrops–wheat, corn, sunflowers, potatoes, sugar beets;
\nlivestock–hogs, cattle, poultry, dairy products; self-sufficient in
\nfood output<\/p>\n
Aid: donor–$1.8 billion in bilateral aid to non-Communist less developed
\ncountries (1962-88)<\/p>\n
Currency: forint (plural–forints); 1 forint (Ft) = 100 filler<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: forints (Ft) per US$1–62.5 (January 1990), 59.2 (1989),
\n50.413 (1988), 46.971 (1987), 45.832 (1986), 50.119 (1985)<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: calendar year<\/p>\n
Communications
\nRailroads: 7,770 km total; 7,513 km 1.435-meter standard gauge,
\n222 km narrow gauge (mostly 0.760-meter), 35 km 1.524-meter broad gauge; 1,138
\nkm double track, 2,088 km electrified; all government owned (1987)<\/p>\n
Highways: 130,000 km total; 29,701 km national highway
\nsystem–26,727 km asphalt and bitumen, 146 km concrete, 55 km stone and
\nroad brick, 2,345 km macadam, 428 km unpaved; 58,495 km country roads
\n(66% unpaved), and 41,804 km (est.) other roads (70% unpaved) (1987)<\/p>\n
Inland waterways: 1,622 km (1986)<\/p>\n
Pipelines: crude oil, 1,204 km; refined products, 600 km; natural gas,
\n3,800 km (1986)<\/p>\n
Ports: Budapest and Dunaujvaros are river ports on the Danube; maritime
\noutlets are Rostock (GDR), Gdansk (Poland), Gdynia (Poland), Szczecin (Poland),
\nGalati (Romania), and Braila (Romania)<\/p>\n
Merchant marine: 16 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 77,141
\nGRT\/103,189 DWT<\/p>\n
Civil air: 22 major transport aircraft<\/p>\n
Airports: 90 total, 90 usable; 20 with permanent-surface runways;
\n2 with runways over 3,659 m; 10 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 15 with runways
\n1,220-2,439 m<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: stations–13 AM, 11 FM, 21 TV; 8 Soviet TV relays;
\n3,500,000 TV sets; 5,500,000 receiver sets; at least 1 satellite earth station<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nBranches: Hungarian People’s Army, Frontier Guard, Air and Air Defense
\nCommand<\/p>\n
Military manpower: males 15-49, 2,645,016; 2,112,651 fit for military
\nservice; 86,481 reach military age (18) annually<\/p>\n
Defense expenditures: 43.7 billion forints, NA% of total budget (1989);
\nnote–conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the official
\nadministratively set exchange rate would produce misleading results
\n.pa
\nIceland
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 103,000 km2; land area: 100,250 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly smaller than Kentucky<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: none<\/p>\n
Coastline: 4,988 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Continental shelf: edge of continental margin or 200 nm;<\/p>\n
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 12 nm<\/p>\n
Disputes: Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Ireland,
\nand the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall
\narea)<\/p>\n
Climate: temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy
\nwinters; damp, cool summers<\/p>\n
Terrain: mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks,
\nicefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords<\/p>\n
Natural resources: fish, hydroelectric and geothermal power,
\ndiatomite<\/p>\n
Land use: NEGL% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 23% meadows and
\npastures; 1% forest and woodland; 76% other<\/p>\n
Environment: subject to earthquakes and volcanic activity<\/p>\n
Note: strategic location between Greenland and Europe;
\nwesternmost European country<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 257,023 (July 1990), growth rate 1.1% (1990)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 18 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 7 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: 0 migrants\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 7 deaths\/1,000 live births (1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 75 years male, 80 years female (1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: noun–Icelander(s); adjective–Icelandic<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norwegians and
\nCelts<\/p>\n
Religion: 95% Evangelical Lutheran, 3% other Protestant and Roman
\nCatholic, 2% no affiliation<\/p>\n
Language: Icelandic<\/p>\n
Literacy: 100%<\/p>\n
Labor force: 134,429; 55.4% commerce, finance, and services, 14.3% other
\nmanufacturing, 5.8% agriculture, 7.9% fish processing, 5.0% fishing (1986)<\/p>\n
Organized labor: 60% of labor force<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: Republic of Iceland<\/p>\n
Type: republic<\/p>\n
Capital: Reykjavik<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: 23 counties (syslar, singular–sysla) and
\n14 independent towns* (kaupstadar, singular–kaupstadur); Akranes*, Akureyri*,
\nArnessysla, Austur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Austur-Hunavatnssysla,
\nAustur-Skaftafellssysla, Borgarfjardharsysla, Dalasysla,
\nEyjafjardharsysla, Gullbringusysla, Hafnarfjordhur*, Husavik*,
\nIsafjordhur*, Keflavik*, Kjosarsysla, Kopavogur*, Myrasysla,
\nNeskaupstadhur*, Nordhur-Isafjardharsysla, Nordhur-Mulasysla,
\nNordhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Olafsfjordhur*, Rangarvallasysla,
\nReykjavik*, Saudharkrokur*, Seydhisfjordhur*, Siglufjordhur*,
\nSkagafjardharsysla, Snaefellsnes-og Hanppadalssysla, Strandasysla,
\nSudhur-Mulasysla, Sudhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Vestmannaeyjar*,
\nVestur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Vestur-Hunavatnssysla,
\nVestur-Isafjardharsysla, Vestur-Skaftafellssysla<\/p>\n
Independence: 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)<\/p>\n
Constitution: 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944<\/p>\n
Legal system: civil law system based on Danish law; does not accept
\ncompulsory ICJ jurisdiction<\/p>\n
National holiday: Anniversary of the Establishment of the Republic,
\n17 June (1944)<\/p>\n
Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (Althing) with an Upper House
\n(Efri Deild) and a Lower House (Nedri Deild)<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Haestirettur)<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nChief of State–President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR (since 1 August 1980);<\/p>\n
Head of Government–Prime Minister Steingrimur HERMANNSSON (since 28
\nSeptember 1988)<\/p>\n
Political parties and leaders: Independence (conservative), Thorsteinn
\nPalsson; Progressive, Steingrimur Hermannsson; Social Democratic, Jon
\nBaldvin Hannibalsson; People’s Alliance (left socialist), Olafur Ragnar
\nGrimsson; Citizens Party (conservative nationalist), Julius Solnes;
\nWomen’s List<\/p>\n
Suffrage: universal at age 20<\/p>\n
Elections:
\nPresident–last held on 29 June 1980 (next scheduled for June 1992);
\nresults–there were no elections in 1984 and 1988 as President Vigdis
\nFinnbogadottir was unopposed;<\/p>\n
Parliament–last held on 25 April 1987 (next to be held by
\n25 April 1991);
\nresults–Independence 27.2%, Progressive 18.9%, Social Democratic 15.2%,
\nPeople’s Alliance 13.4%, Citizens Party 10.9%, Womens List 10.1%, other 4.3%;<\/p>\n
seats–(63 total) Independence 18, Progressive 13, Social Democratic 10,
\nPeople’s Alliance 8, Citizens Party 7, Womens List 6, Regional Equality
\nPlatform 1<\/p>\n
Communists: less than 100 (est.), some of whom participate in the
\nPeople’s Alliance<\/p>\n
Member of: CCC, Council of Europe, EC (free trade agreement pending
\nresolution of fishing limits issue), EFTA, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICES,
\nIDA, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, ITU, IWC–International
\nWhaling Commission, NATO, Nordic Council, OECD, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WSG<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Ingvi S. INGVARSSON; Chancery at
\n2022 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 265-6653
\nthrough 6655; there is an Icelandic Consulate General in New York;
\nUS–Ambassador Charles E. COBB; Embassy at Laufasvegur 21, Reykjavik
\n(mailing address is FPO New York 09571-0001); telephone \u00d5354\u00e5 (1) 29100<\/p>\n
Flag: blue with a red cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of
\nthe flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the
\nstyle of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: Iceland’s prosperous Scandinavian-type economy is basically
\ncapitalistic, but with extensive welfare measures, low unemployment, and
\ncomparatively even distribution of income. The economy is heavily dependent on
\nthe fishing industry, which provides nearly 75% of export earnings. In the
\nabsence of other natural resources, Iceland’s economy is vulnerable to changing
\nworld fish prices. National output declined for the second consecutive year in
\n1989, and two of the largest fish farms filed for bankruptcy. Other economic
\nactivities include livestock raising and aluminum smelting. A fall in the fish
\ncatch is expected for 1990, resulting in a continuation of the recession.<\/p>\n
GDP: $4.0 billion, per capita $16,200; real growth rate – 1.8% (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 17.4% (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: 1.3% (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Budget: revenues $1.5 billion; expenditures $1.7 billion,
\nincluding capital expenditures of $NA million (1988)<\/p>\n
Exports: $1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1988);
\ncommodities–fish and fish products, animal products, aluminum,
\ndiatomite;
\npartners–EC 58.9% (UK 23.3%, FRG 10.3%), US 13.6%,
\nUSSR 3.6%<\/p>\n
Imports: $1.6 billion (c.i.f., 1988);
\ncommodities–machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum,
\nfoodstuffs, textiles;
\npartners–EC 58% (FRG 16%, Denmark 10.4%, UK 9.2%), US 8.5%,
\nUSSR 3.9%<\/p>\n
External debt: $1.8 billion (1988)<\/p>\n
Industrial production: growth rate 4.7% (1987 est.)<\/p>\n
Electricity: 1,063,000 kW capacity; 5,165 million kWh produced,
\n20,780 kWh per capita (1989)<\/p>\n
Industries: fish processing, aluminum smelting, ferro-silicon production,
\nhydropower<\/p>\n
Agriculture: accounts for about 25% of GDP (including fishing); fishing is
\nmost important economic activity, contributing nearly 75% to export earnings;
\nprincipal crops–potatoes and turnips; livestock–cattle, sheep; self-sufficient
\nin crops; fish catch of about 1.6 million metric tons in 1987<\/p>\n
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $19.1 million<\/p>\n
Currency: krona (plural–kronur);
\n1 Icelandic krona (IKr) = 100 aurar<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: Icelandic kronur (IKr) per US$1–60.751 (January 1990),
\n57.042 (1989), 43.014 (1988), 38.677 (1987), 41.104 (1986), 41.508 (1985)<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: calendar year<\/p>\n
Communications
\nHighways: 12,343 km total; 166 km bitumen and concrete; 1,284 km
\nbituminous treated and gravel; 10,893 km earth<\/p>\n
Ports: Reykjavik, Akureyri, Hafnarfjordhur, Keflavik, Seydhisfjordhur,
\nSiglufjordur, Vestmannaeyjar; numerous minor ports<\/p>\n
Merchant marine: 18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 62,867
\nGRT\/87,610 DWT; includes 9 cargo, 2 refrigerated cargo, 1 container,
\n2 roll-on\/roll-off cargo, 1 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker,
\n1 chemical tanker, 2 bulk<\/p>\n
Civil air: 20 major transport aircraft<\/p>\n
Airports: 99 total, 92 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways;
\nnone with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
\n14 with runways 1,220-2,439 m<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: adequate domestic service, wire and radio
\ncommunication system; 135,000 telephones; stations–10 AM, 17 (43 relays) FM,
\n14 (132 relays) TV; 2 submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nBranches: Police, Coast Guard<\/p>\n
Military manpower: males 15-49, 68,688; 61,553 fit for military service;
\nno conscription or compulsory military service<\/p>\n
Defense expenditures: none
\n.pa
\nIndia
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 3,287,590 km2; land area: 2,973,190 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly more than one-third the size of the US<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: 14,103 km total; Bangladesh 4,053 km, Bhutan 605 km,
\nBurma 1,463 km, China 3,380, Nepal 1,690 km, Pakistan 2,912 km<\/p>\n
Coastline: 7,000 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Contiguous zone: 24 nm;<\/p>\n
Continental shelf: edge of continental margin or 200 nm;<\/p>\n
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 12 nm<\/p>\n
Disputes: boundaries with Bangladesh, China, and Pakistan; water
\nsharing problems with downstream riparians, Bangladesh over the Ganges
\nand Pakistan over the Indus<\/p>\n
Climate: varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north<\/p>\n
Terrain: upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling
\nplain along the Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north<\/p>\n
Natural resources: coal (fourth-largest reserves in the world), iron ore,
\nmanganese, mica, bauxite, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds,
\ncrude oil, limestone<\/p>\n
Land use: 55% arable land; 1% permanent crops; 4% meadows and pastures;
\n23% forest and woodland; 17% other; includes 13% irrigated<\/p>\n
Environment: droughts, flash floods, severe thunderstorms common;
\ndeforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; air and water pollution;
\ndesertification<\/p>\n
Note: dominates South Asian subcontinent; near important
\nIndian Ocean trade routes<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 849,746,001 (July 1990), growth rate 2.0% (1990)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 30 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 10 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: 0 migrants\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 89 deaths\/1,000 live births (1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 57 years male, 59 years female (1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 3.8 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: noun–Indian(s); adjective–Indian<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: 72% Indo-Aryan, 25% Dravidian, 3% Mongoloid and other<\/p>\n
Religion: 82.6% Hindu, 11.4% Muslim, 2.4% Christian, 2.0% Sikh, 0.7%
\nBuddhist, 0.5% Jains, 0.4% other<\/p>\n
Language: Hindi, English, and 14 other official languages–Bengali,
\nTelgu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya,
\nPunjabi, Assamese, Kashmiri, Sindhi, and Sanskrit; 24 languages spoken by
\na million or more persons each; numerous other languages and dialects,
\nfor the most part mutually unintelligible; Hindi is the national language
\nand primary tongue of 30% of the people; English enjoys associate status
\nbut is the most important language for national, political, and
\ncommercial communication; Hindustani, a popular variant of Hindi\/Urdu, is
\nspoken widely throughout northern India<\/p>\n
Literacy: 36%<\/p>\n
Labor force: 284,400,000; 67% agriculture (FY85)<\/p>\n
Organized labor: less than 5% of the labor force<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: Republic of India<\/p>\n
Type: federal republic<\/p>\n
Capital: New Delhi<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: 24 states and 7 union territories*; Andaman and
\nNicobar Islands*, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar,
\nChandigarh*, Dadra and Nagar Haveli*, Delhi*, Goa and Daman and Diu*,
\nGujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir,
\nKarnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep*, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur,
\nMeghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Pondicherry*, Punjab,
\nRajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal;
\nnote–Goa may have become a state with Daman and Diu remaining a union
\nterritory<\/p>\n
Independence: 15 August 1947 (from UK)<\/p>\n
Constitution: 26 January 1950<\/p>\n
Legal system: based on English common law; limited judicial review of
\nlegislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations<\/p>\n
National holiday: Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic,
\n26 January (1950)<\/p>\n
Executive branch: president, vice president, prime minister,
\nCouncil of Ministers<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Sansad) consists of an upper
\nhouse or Government Assembly (Rajya Sabha) and a lower house or People’s
\nAssembly (Lok Sabha)<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: Supreme Court<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nChief of State–President Ramaswamy Iyer VENKATARAMAN (since 25 July
\n1987); Vice President Dr. Shankar Dayal SHARMA (since 3 September 1987);<\/p>\n
Head of Government–Prime Minister Vishwanath Pratap SINGH
\n(since 2 December 1989)<\/p>\n
Political parties and leaders: Janata Dal Party, Prime Minister
\nV. P. Singh; Congress (I) Party, Rajiv Gandhi; Bharatiya Janata Party,
\nL. K. Advani; Communist Party of India (CPI), C. Rajeswara Rao;
\nCommunist Party of India\/Marxist (CPI\/M), E. M. S. Namboodiripad;
\nCommunist Party of India\/Marxist-Leninist (CPI\/ML), Satyanarayan Singh;
\nAll-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (AIADMK), a regional party
\nin Tamil Nadu, Jayalalitha; Dravida Munnetra Kazagham, M. Karunanidhi;
\nAkali Dal factions representing Sikh religious community in the Punjab;
\nTelugu Desam, a regional party in Andhra Pradesh, N. T. Rama Rao; National
\nConference (NC), a regional party in Jammu and Kashmir, Farooq Abdullah;
\nAsom Gana Parishad, a regional party in Assam, Prafulla Mahanta<\/p>\n
Suffrage: universal at age 18<\/p>\n
Elections:
\nPeople’s Assembly–last held 22, 24, 26 November
\n1989 (next to be held by November 1994, subject to postponement);
\nresults–percent of vote by party NA;
\nseats–(544 total), 525 elected–Congress (I) Party
\n193, Janata Dal Party 141, Bharatiya Janata Party 86, Communist
\nParty of India (Marxist) 32, independents 18, Communist Party of India
\n12, AIADMK 11, Akali Dal 6, Shiv Sena 4, RSP 4, Forward Bloc 3, BSP 3,
\nTelugu Desam 2, Congress (S) Party 1, others 9<\/p>\n
Communists: 466,000 members claimed by CPI, 361,000 members claimed by
\nCPI\/M; Communist extremist groups, about 15,000 members<\/p>\n
Other political or pressure groups: various separatist groups seeking
\ngreater communal autonomy; numerous senas or militant\/chauvinistic
\norganizations, including Shiv Sena (in Bombay), Anand Marg, and Rashtriya
\nSwayamsevak Sangh<\/p>\n
Member of: ADB, AIOEC, ANRPC, CCC, Colombo Plan, Commonwealth,
\nESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAC, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
\nIHO, ILO, ILZSG, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, IRC, ITC, ITU,
\nIWC–International Wheat Council, NAM, SAARC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU,
\nWHO, WIPO, WMO, WSG, WTO<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador-designate Abid HUSSEIN;
\nChancery at 2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008;
\ntelephone (202) 939-7000; there are Indian Consulates General in
\nChicago, New York, and San Francisco;
\nUS–Ambassador William CLARK; Embassy at Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri
\n110021, New Delhi; telephone \u00d591\u00e5 (11) 600651; there are US Consulates General
\nin Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras<\/p>\n
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with
\na blue chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered in the white band; similar to
\nthe flag of Niger which has a small orange disk centered in the white band<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: India’s Malthusian economy is a mixture of traditional
\nvillage farming and handicrafts, modern agriculture, old and new branches
\nof industry, and a multitude of support services. It presents both the
\nentrepreneurial skills and drives of the capitalist system and
\nwidespread government intervention of the socialist mold. Growth of 4%
\nto 5% annually in the 1980s has softened the impact of population growth
\non unemployment, social tranquility, and the environment. Agricultural output
\nhas continued to expand, reflecting the greater use of modern farming techniques
\nand improved seed that have helped to make India self-sufficient in food grains
\nand a net agricultural exporter. However, tens of millions of villagers,
\nparticularly in the south, have not benefited from the green
\nrevolution and live in abject poverty. Industry has benefited from a
\nliberalization of controls. The growth rate of the service sector has
\nalso been strong.<\/p>\n
GNP: $333 billion, per capita $400; real growth rate 5.0% (1989
\nest.)<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.5% (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: 20% (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Budget: revenues $48 billion; expenditures $53 billion, including
\ncapital expenditures of $13.6 billion (1989)<\/p>\n
Exports: $17.2 billion (f.o.b., 1989); commodities–tea, coffee,
\niron ore, fish products, manufactures;
\npartners–EC 25%, USSR and Eastern Europe 17%, US 19%, Japan 10%<\/p>\n
Imports: $24.7 billion (c.i.f., 1989); commodities–petroleum,
\nedible oils, textiles, clothing, capital goods; partners–EC 33%,
\nMiddle East 19%, Japan 10%, US 9%, USSR and Eastern Europe 8%<\/p>\n
External debt: $48.7 billion (1989)<\/p>\n
Industrial production: growth rate 8.8% (1989)<\/p>\n
Electricity: 59,000,000 kW capacity; 215,000 million kWh produced,
\n260 kWh per capita (1989)<\/p>\n
Industries: textiles, food processing, steel, machinery, transportation
\nequipment, cement, jute manufactures, mining, petroleum, power,
\nchemicals, pharmaceuticals, electronics<\/p>\n
Agriculture: accounts for about 33% of GNP and employs 67% of labor force;
\nself-sufficient in food grains; principal crops–rice, wheat, oilseeds, cotton,
\njute, tea, sugarcane, potatoes; livestock–cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats and
\npoultry; fish catch of about 3 million metric tons ranks India in the world’s
\ntop 10 fishing nations<\/p>\n
Illicit drugs: licit producer of opium poppy for the
\npharmaceutical trade, but some opium is diverted to international drug
\nmarkets; major transit country for illicit narcotics produced in
\nneighboring countries<\/p>\n
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $4.2 billion; Western
\n(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-87), $18.6 billion;
\nOPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $315 million; USSR (1970-88), $10.0 billion;
\nEastern Europe (1970-88), $105 million<\/p>\n
Currency: Indian rupee (plural–rupees);
\n1 Indian rupee (Re) = 100 paise<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: Indian rupees (Rs) per US$1–16.965 (January 1990),
\n16.226 (1989), 13.917 (1988), 12.962 (1987), 12.611 (1986), 12.369 (1985)<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March<\/p>\n
Communications
\nRailroads: 61,850 km total (1986); 33,553 km 1.676-meter broad gauge,
\n24,051 km 1.000-meter gauge, 4,246 km narrow gauge (0.762 meter and
\n0.610 meter); 12,617 km is double track; 6,500 km is electrified<\/p>\n
Highways: 1,633,300 km total (1986); 515,300 km secondary and
\n1,118,000 km gravel, crushed stone, or earth<\/p>\n
Inland waterways: 16,180 km; 3,631 km navigable by large vessels<\/p>\n
Pipelines: crude oil, 3,497 km; refined products, 1,703 km; natural gas,
\n902 km (1989)<\/p>\n
Ports: Bombay, Calcutta, Cochin, Kandla, Madras, New Mangalore,
\nPort Blair (Andaman Islands)<\/p>\n
Merchant marine: 296 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,855,842
\nGRT\/9,790,260 DWT; includes 1 short-sea passenger, 8 passenger-cargo, 95 cargo,
\n1 roll-on\/roll-off cargo, 8 container, 53 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL)
\ntanker, 10 chemical tanker, 9 combination ore\/oil,109 bulk, 2 combination bulk<\/p>\n
Civil air: 93 major transport aircraft<\/p>\n
Airports: 345 total, 292 usable; 202 with permanent-surface runways; 2
\nwith runways over 3,659 m; 57 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 91 with runways
\n1,220-2,439 m<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: poor domestic telephone service, international radio
\ncommunications adequate; 3,200,000 telephones; stations–170 AM, no FM, 14 TV
\n(government controlled); domestic satellite system for communications and TV;
\n3 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth stations; submarine cables to Sri Lanka, Malaysia,
\nand Pakistan<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nBranches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Border Security Forces, Coast Guard,
\nParamilitary Forces<\/p>\n
Military manpower: males 15-49, 227,436,282; 134,169,114 fit for military
\nservice; about 9,403,063 reach military age (17) annually<\/p>\n
Defense expenditures: 2.6% of GNP, or $8.7 billion (FY90 est.)
\n.pa
\nIndian Ocean
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 73,600,000 km2; Arabian Sea, Bass Strait, Bay of Bengal,
\nJava Sea, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Strait of Malacca, Timor Sea, and other
\ntributary water bodies<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly less than eight times the size of the US;
\nthird-largest ocean (after the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean, but larger
\nthan the Arctic Ocean)<\/p>\n
Coastline: 66,526 km<\/p>\n
Climate: northeast monsoon (December to April), southwest monsoon (June
\nto October); tropical cyclones occur during May\/June and October\/November in
\nthe north Indian Ocean and January\/February in the south Indian Ocean<\/p>\n
Terrain: surface dominated by counterclockwise gyre (broad, circular
\nsystem of currents) in the south Indian Ocean; unique reversal of surface
\ncurrents in the north Indian Ocean–low pressure over southwest Asia from hot,
\nrising, summer air results in the southwest monsoon and southwest-to-northeast
\nwinds and currents, while high pressure over northern Asia from cold, falling,
\nwinter air results in the northeast monsoon and northeast-to-southwest winds
\nand currents; ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Indian Ocean Ridge and
\nsubdivided by the Southeast Indian Ocean Ridge, Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge,
\nand Ninety East Ridge; maximum depth is 7,258 meters in the Java Trench<\/p>\n
Natural resources: oil and gas fields, fish, shrimp, sand and
\ngravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules<\/p>\n
Environment: endangered marine species include the dugong, seals,
\nturtles, and whales; oil pollution in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and
\nRed Sea<\/p>\n
Note: major choke points include Bab el Mandeb, Strait of Hormuz,
\nStrait of Malacca, southern access to the Suez Canal, and the Lombok Strait;
\nships subject to superstructure icing in extreme south near Antarctica from
\nMay to October<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: The Indian Ocean provides a major transportation highway
\nfor the movement of petroleum products from the Middle East to Europe
\nand North and South American countries. Fish from the ocean are of growing
\neconomic importance to many of the bordering countries as a source of both food
\nand exports. Fishing fleets from the USSR, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan also exploit
\nthe Indian Ocean for mostly shrimp and tuna. Large reserves of hydrocarbons are
\nbeing tapped in the offshore areas of Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, and Western
\nAustralia. An estimated 40% of the world’s offshore oil production comes from
\nthe Indian Ocean. Beach sands rich in heavy minerals and offshore placer
\ndeposits are actively exploited by bordering countries, particularly India,
\nSouth Africa, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.<\/p>\n
Industries: based on exploitation of natural resources, particularly
\nmarine life, minerals, oil and gas production, fishing, sand and gravel
\naggregates, placer deposits<\/p>\n
Communications
\nPorts: Bombay (India), Calcutta (India), Madras (India),
\nColombo (Sri Lanka), Durban (South Africa), Fremantle (Australia),
\nJakarta (Indonesia), Melbourne (Australia), Richard’s Bay (South Africa)<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: no submarine cables
\n.pa
\nIndonesia
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 1,919,440 km2; land area: 1,826,440 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Texas<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: 2,602 km total; Malaysia 1,782 km, Papua New Guinea
\n820 km<\/p>\n
Coastline: 54,716 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims: (measured from claimed archipelagic baselines);<\/p>\n
Continental shelf: to depth of exploitation;<\/p>\n
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 12 nm<\/p>\n
Disputes: East Timor question with Portugal<\/p>\n
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands<\/p>\n
Terrain: mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior mountains<\/p>\n
Natural resources: crude oil, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber, bauxite,
\ncopper, fertile soils, coal, gold, silver<\/p>\n
Land use: 8% arable land; 3% permanent crops; 7% meadows and pastures;
\n67% forest and woodland; 15% other; includes 3% irrigated<\/p>\n
Environment: archipelago of 13,500 islands (6,000 inhabited); occasional
\nfloods, severe droughts, and tsunamis; deforestation<\/p>\n
Note: straddles Equator; strategic location astride or along major sea
\nlanes from Indian Ocean to Pacific Ocean<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 190,136,221 (July 1990), growth rate 1.8% (1990)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 27 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 9 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: 0 migrants\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 75 deaths\/1,000 live births (1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 58 years male, 63 years female (1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 3.1 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: noun–Indonesian(s); adjective–Indonesian<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: majority of Malay stock comprising 45.0% Javanese, 14.0%
\nSundanese, 7.5% Madurese, 7.5% coastal Malays, 26.0% other<\/p>\n
Religion: 88% Muslim, 6% Protestant, 3% Roman Catholic, 2% Hindu, 1%
\nother<\/p>\n
Language: Bahasa Indonesia (modified form of Malay; official); English
\nand Dutch leading foreign languages; local dialects, the most widely spoken
\nof which is Javanese<\/p>\n
Literacy: 62%<\/p>\n
Labor force: 67,000,000; 55% agriculture, 10% manufacturing,
\n4% construction, 3% transport and communications (1985 est.)<\/p>\n
Organized labor: 3,000,000 members (claimed); about 5% of labor force<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: Republic of Indonesia<\/p>\n
Type: republic<\/p>\n
Capital: Jakarta<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: 24 provinces (propinsi-propinsi,
\nsingular–propinsi), 2 special regions* (daerah-daerah istimewa,
\nsingular–daerah istimewa), and 1 special capital city district**
\n(daerah khusus ibukota); Aceh*, Bali, Bengkulu, Irian Jaya, Jakarta Raya**,
\nJambi, Jawa Barat, Jawa Tengah, Jawa Timur, Kalimantan Barat,
\nKalimantan Selatan, Kalimantan Tengah, Kalimantan Timur, Lampung, Maluku,
\nNusa Tenggara Barat, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Riau, Sulawesi Selatan,
\nSulawesi Tengah, Sulawesi Tenggara, Sulawesi Utara, Sumatera Barat,
\nSumatera Selatan, Sumatera Utara, Timor Timur, Yogyakarta*<\/p>\n
Independence: 17 August 1945 (from Netherlands; formerly Netherlands
\nor Dutch East Indies)<\/p>\n
Constitution: August 1945, abrogated by Federal Constitution of 1949
\nand Provisional Constitution of 1950, restored 5 July 1959<\/p>\n
Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law, substantially modified by
\nindigenous concepts and by new criminal procedures code; has not accepted
\ncompulsory ICJ jurisdiction<\/p>\n
National holiday: Independence Day, 17 August (1945)<\/p>\n
Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives
\n(Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat or DPR); note–the People’s Consultative Assembly
\n(Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat or MPR) includes the DPR plus 500 indirectly
\nelected members who meet every five years to elect the president and
\nvice president and, theoretically, to determine national policy<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Mahkamah Agung)<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nChief of State and Head of Government–President Gen. (Ret.)
\nSOEHARTO (since 27 March 1968); Vice President Lt. Gen. (Ret.) SUDHARMONO
\n(since 11 March 1983)<\/p>\n
Political parties and leaders: GOLKAR (quasi-official party based on
\nfunctional groups), Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Wahono, general chairman; Indonesia
\nDemocracy Party (PDI–federation of former Nationalist and Christian
\nParties), Soeryadi, chairman; Development Unity Party (PPP, federation
\nof former Islamic parties), Ismail Hasan Metareum, chairman<\/p>\n
Suffrage: universal at age 17 and married persons regardless of age<\/p>\n
Elections:
\nHouse of Representatives–last held on 23 April 1987
\n(next to be held 23 April 1992);
\nresults–Golkar 73%, UDP 16%, PDI 11%;
\nseats–(500 total–400 elected, 100 appointed) Golkar 299, UDP 61, PDI 40<\/p>\n
Communists: Communist Party (PKI) was officially banned in March 1966;
\ncurrent strength about 1,000-3,000, with less than 10% engaged in organized
\nactivity; pre-October 1965 hardcore membership about 1.5 million<\/p>\n
Member of: ADB, ANRPC, ASEAN, Association of Tin Producing Countries,
\nCCC, CIPEC, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBA, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDA,
\nIDB–Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
\nINTERPOL, IPU, IRC, ISO, ITC, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
\nWIPO, WMO, WTO<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Abdul Rachman RAMLY;
\nChancery at 2020 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20036;
\ntelephone (202) 775-5200; there are Indonesian Consulates General in Houston,
\nNew York, and Los Angeles, and Consulates in Chicago and San Francisco;
\nUS–Ambassador John C. MONJO; Embassy at Medan Merdeka Selatan 5,
\nJakarta (mailing address is APO San Francisco 96356);
\ntelephone \u00d562\u00e5 (21) 360-360; there are US Consulates in Medan and Surabaya<\/p>\n
Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the
\nflag of Monaco which is shorter; also similar to the flag of Poland which is
\nwhite (top) and red<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: Indonesia is a mixed economy with many socialist institutions
\nand central planning but with a recent emphasis on deregulation and private
\nenterprise. Indonesia has extensive natural wealth but, with a large and
\nrapidly increasing population, it remains a poor country. GNP growth in 1985-89
\naveraged about 4%, somewhat short of the 5% rate needed to absorb the 2.3
\nmillion workers annually entering the labor force. Agriculture, including
\nforestry and fishing, is the most important sector, accounting for 21% of GDP
\nand over 50% of the labor force. The staple crop is rice. Once the world’s
\nlargest rice importer, Indonesia is now nearly self-sufficient.
\nPlantation crops–rubber and palm oil–are being encouraged for both
\nexport and job generation. The diverse natural resources include crude
\noil, natural gas, timber, metals, and coal. Of these, the oil sector
\ndominates the external economy, generating more than 20% of the
\ngovernment’s revenues and 40% of export earnings in 1989.
\nJapan is Indonesia’s most important customer and supplier of aid.<\/p>\n
GNP: $80 billion, per capita $430; real growth rate 5.7% (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.5% (1989)<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: 3.1% (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Budget: revenues $20.9 billion; expenditures $20.9 billion, including
\ncapital expenditures of $7.5 billion (FY89)<\/p>\n
Exports: $21.0 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.); commodities–petroleum
\nand liquefied natural gas 40%, timber 15%, textiles 7%, rubber 5%, coffee 3%;
\npartners–Japan 42%, US 16%, Singapore 9%, EC 11% (1988)<\/p>\n
Imports: $13.2 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.); commodities–machinery
\n39%, chemical products 19%, manufactured goods 16%;
\npartners–Japan 26%, EC 19%, US 13%, Singapore 7% (1988)<\/p>\n
External debt: $55.0 billion, medium and long-term (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Industrial production: growth rate 4.8% (1988 est.)<\/p>\n
Electricity: 11,600,000 kW capacity; 38,000 million kWh produced,
\n200 kWh per capita (1989)<\/p>\n
Industries: petroleum, textiles, mining, cement, chemical fertilizer
\nproduction, timber, food, rubber<\/p>\n
Agriculture: subsistence food production; small-holder and plantation
\nproduction for export; rice, cassava, peanuts, rubber, cocoa, coffee, copra,
\nother tropical products<\/p>\n
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international
\ndrug trade, but not a major player; government actively eradicating
\nplantings and prosecuting traffickers<\/p>\n
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $4.2 billion; Western
\n(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $19.8 billion;
\nOPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $213 million; Communist countries (1970-88),
\n$175 million<\/p>\n
Currency: Indonesian rupiah (plural–rupiahs);
\n1 Indonesian rupiah (Rp) = 100 sen (sen no longer used)<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: Indonesian rupiahs (Rp) per US$1–1,804.9 (January 1990),
\n1,770.1 (1989), 1,685.7 (1988), 1,643.8 (1987), 1,282.6 (1986), 1,110.6 (1985)<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March<\/p>\n
Communications
\nRailroads: 6,964 km total; 6,389 km 1.067-meter gauge, 497 km 0.750-meter
\ngauge, 78 km 0.600-meter gauge; 211 km double track; 101 km electrified; all
\ngovernment owned<\/p>\n
Highways: 119,500 km total; 11,812 km state, 34,180 km provincial,
\nand 73,508 km district roads<\/p>\n
Inland waterways: 21,579 km total; Sumatra 5,471 km, Java and Madura
\n820 km, Kalimantan 10,460 km, Celebes 241 km, Irian Jaya 4,587 km<\/p>\n
Pipelines: crude oil, 2,505 km; refined products, 456 km; natural gas,
\n1,703 km (1989)<\/p>\n
Ports: Cilacap, Cirebon, Jakarta, Kupang, Palembang, Ujungpandang,
\nSemarang, Surabaya<\/p>\n
Merchant marine: 313 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,480,912
\nGRT\/2,245,233 DWT; includes 5 short-sea passenger, 13 passenger-cargo,
\n173 cargo, 6 container, 3 roll-on\/roll-off cargo, 2 vehicle carrier,
\n77 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker,
\n2 liquefied gas, 6 specialized tanker, 1 livestock carrier, 24 bulk<\/p>\n
Civil air: about 216 commercial transport aircraft<\/p>\n
Airports: 468 total, 435 usable; 106 with permanent-surface runways; 1
\nwith runways over 3,659 m; 12 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 62 with runways
\n1,220-2,439 m<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: interisland microwave system and HF police net;
\ndomestic service fair, international service good; radiobroadcast coverage
\ngood; 763,000 telephones (1986); stations–618 AM, 38 FM, 9 TV; satellite earth
\nstations–1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station and 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT
\nearth station; and 1 domestic satellite communications system<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nBranches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police<\/p>\n
Military manpower: males 15-49, 49,283,496; 29,137,291 fit for military
\nservice; 2,098,169 reach military age (18) annually<\/p>\n
Defense expenditures: 2.1% of GNP (1987)
\n.pa
\nIran
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 1,648,000 km2; land area: 1,636,000 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly larger than Alaska<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: 5,492 km total; Afghanistan 936 km, Iraq 1,458 km,
\nPakistan 909 km, Turkey 499 km, USSR 1,690 km<\/p>\n
Coastline: 3,180 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Continental shelf: not specific;<\/p>\n
Exclusive fishing zone: 50 nm in the Sea of Oman, median-line
\nboundaries in the Persian Gulf;<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 12 nm<\/p>\n
Disputes: Iran began formal UN peace negotiations with Iraq in August
\n1988 to end the war that began on 22 September 1980–troop withdrawal,
\nfreedom of navigation, sovereignty over the Shatt al Arab waterway and
\nprisoner-of-war exchange are the major issues for negotiation; Kurdish
\nquestion among Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and the USSR; occupies three
\nislands in the Persian Gulf claimed by UAE (Jazireh-ye Abu Musa
\nor Abu Musa, Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg or Greater Tunb,
\nand Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Kuchek or Lesser Tunb); periodic disputes with
\nAfghanistan over Helmand water rights; Boluch question with Afghanistan
\nand Pakistan<\/p>\n
Climate: mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast<\/p>\n
Terrain: rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts,
\nmountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts<\/p>\n
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper,
\niron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur<\/p>\n
Land use: 8% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 27% meadows and
\npastures; 11% forest and woodland; 54% other; includes 2% irrigated<\/p>\n
Environment: deforestation; overgrazing; desertification<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 55,647,001 (July 1990), growth rate 3.1% (1990)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 45 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 10 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: – 5 migrants\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 91 deaths\/1,000 live births (1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 62 years male, 63 years female (1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 6.3 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: noun–Iranian(s); adjective–Iranian<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: 51% Persian, 25% Azerbaijani, 9% Kurd, 8% Gilaki
\nand Mazandarani, 2% Lur, 1% Baloch, 1% Arab, 3% other<\/p>\n
Religion: 95% Shia Muslim, 4% Sunni Muslim, 2% Zoroastrian, Jewish,
\nChristian, and Bahai<\/p>\n
Language: 58% Persian and Persian dialects, 26% Turkic and Turkic
\ndialects, 9% Kurdish, 2% Luri, 1% Baloch, 1% Arabic, 1% Turkish, 2% other<\/p>\n
Literacy: 48% (est.)<\/p>\n
Labor force: 15,400,000; 33% agriculture, 21% manufacturing; shortage of
\nskilled labor (1988 est.)<\/p>\n
Organized labor: none<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: Islamic Republic of Iran<\/p>\n
Type: theocratic republic<\/p>\n
Capital: Tehran<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: 24 provinces (ostanha, singular–ostan);
\nAzarbayjan-e Bakhtari, Azarbayjan-e Khavari,
\nBakhtaran, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari,
\nEsfahan, Fars, Gilan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam,
\nKerman, Khorasan, Khuzestan,
\nKohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmadi, Kordestan,
\nLorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Semnan,
\nSistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan<\/p>\n
Independence: 1 April 1979, Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed<\/p>\n
Constitution: 2-3 December 1979; revised 1989 to expand powers of
\nthe presidency<\/p>\n
Legal system: the new Constitution codifies Islamic principles of
\ngovernment<\/p>\n
National holiday: Islamic Republic Day, 1 April (1979)<\/p>\n
Executive branch: cleric (faqih), president, Council of Cabinet Ministers<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly
\n(Majlis-e-Shura-e-Islami)<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: Supreme Court<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nCleric and functional Chief of State–Leader of the Islamic
\nRevolution Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 3 June 1989);<\/p>\n
Head of Government–President Ali Akbar RAFSANJANI (since 3 August
\n1989);<\/p>\n
Political parties and leaders: there are at least seven licensed
\nparties; the two most important are–Militant Clerics Association, Mehdi
\nMahdavi-Karubi and Mohammad Asqar Musavi-Khoinima; Fedaiyin Islam
\nOrganization, Sadeq Khalkhali<\/p>\n
Suffrage: universal at age 15<\/p>\n
Elections:
\nPresident–last held NA July 1989 (next to be held April 1993);
\nresults–Ali Akbar Rafsanjani was elected with only token opposition;<\/p>\n
Islamic Consultative Assembly–last held 8 April and 13 May
\n1988 (next to be held April 1992); results–percent of vote by party
\nNA;
\nseats–(270 seats total) number of seats by party NA<\/p>\n
Communists: 1,000 to 2,000 est. hardcore; 15,000 to 20,000 est.
\nsympathizers; crackdown in 1983 crippled the party; trials of captured leaders
\nbegan in late 1983 and remain incomplete<\/p>\n
Other political or pressure groups: groups that generally
\nsupport the Islamic Republic include Hizballah,
\nHojjatiyeh Society, Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution, Muslim Students
\nFollowing the Line of the Imam, and Tehran Militant Clergy Association;
\nMojahedin Khalq Organization (MKO), People’s Fedayeen, and Kurdish Democratic
\nParty are armed political groups that have been almost completely repressed by
\nthe government<\/p>\n
Member of: CCC, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, IDA, IDB, IFC,
\nILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, IPU, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNESCO, UNICEF, UNIDO,
\nWHO<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: none; protecting power in the US is
\nAlgeria–Iranian Interests Section, 2209 Wisconsin Avenue NW,
\nWashington DC 20007; telephone (202) 965-4990;
\nUS–protecting power in Iran is Switzerland<\/p>\n
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red; the
\nnational emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah) in red is centered
\nin the white band; Allah Akbar (God is Great) in white Arabic script is
\nrepeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green band and 11 times along the
\ntop edge of the red band<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: Since the 1979 revolution, the banks, petroleum industry,
\ntransportation, utilities, and mining have been nationalized, but the
\nnew five-year plan–the first since the revolution–passed in January
\n1990, calls for the transfer of many government-controlled enterprises
\nto the private sector. War-related disruptions, massive corruption,
\nmismanagement, demographic pressures, and ideological rigidities have kept
\neconomic growth at depressed levels. Oil accounts for 90% of export
\nrevenues. A combination of war damage and low oil prices brought a 2%
\ndrop in GNP in 1988. GNP probably rose slightly in 1989, considerably
\nshort of the 3.4% population growth rate in 1989. Heating oil and gasoline
\nare rationed. Agriculture has suffered from the war, land reform, and shortages
\nof equipment and materials. The five-year plan seeks to reinvigorate the
\neconomy by increasing the role of the private sector, boosting nonoil
\nincome, and securing foreign loans. The plan is overly ambitious but
\nprobably will generate some short-term relief.<\/p>\n
GNP: $97.6 billion, per capita $1,800; real growth rate 0-1% (1989)<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 50-80% (1989)<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: 30% (1989)<\/p>\n
Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $55.1 billion, including capital
\nexpenditures of $11.5 billion (FY88 est.)<\/p>\n
Exports: $12.3 billion (f.o.b., 1988);
\ncommodities–petroleum 90%, carpets, fruits, nuts, hides;
\npartners–Japan, Turkey, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, France, FRG<\/p>\n
Imports: $12.0 billion (c.i.f., 1988); commodities–machinery,
\nmilitary supplies, metal works, foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, technical services,
\nrefined oil products; partners–FRG, Japan, Turkey, UK, Italy<\/p>\n
External debt: $4-5 billion (1989)<\/p>\n
Industrial production: growth rate NA%<\/p>\n
Electricity: 14,579,000 kW capacity; 40,000 million kWh produced,
\n740 kWh per capita (1989)<\/p>\n
Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, textiles, cement and other building
\nmaterials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil
\nproduction), metal fabricating (steel and copper)<\/p>\n
Agriculture: principal products–rice, other grains, sugar beets, fruits,
\nnuts, cotton, dairy products, wool, caviar; not self-sufficient in food<\/p>\n
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of opium poppy for the domestic and
\ninternational drug trade<\/p>\n
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-80), $1.0 billion; Western
\n(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $1.5 billion;
\nCommunist countries (1970-88), $976 million; note–aid fell sharply
\nfollowing the 1979 revolution<\/p>\n
Currency: Iranian rial (plural–rials); 1 Iranian rial (IR) = 100 dinars;
\nnote–domestic figures are generally referred to in terms of the toman
\n(plural–tomans), which equals 10 rials<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: Iranian rials (IR) per US$1–70.019 (January 1990),
\n72.015 (1989), 68.683 (1988), 71.460 (1987), 78.760 (1986), 91.052 (1985)<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: 21 March-20 March<\/p>\n
Communications
\nRailroads: 4,601 km total; 4,509 km 1.432-meter gauge, 92 km 1.676-meter
\ngauge; 730 km under construction from Bafq to Bandar Abbas<\/p>\n
Highways: 140,072 km total; 46,866 km gravel and crushed stone; 49,440 km
\nimproved earth; 42,566 km bituminous and bituminous-treated surfaces;
\n1,200 km (est.) of rural road network<\/p>\n
Inland waterways: 904 km; the Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by
\nmaritime traffic for about 130 km, but closed since September 1980 because
\nof Iran-Iraq war<\/p>\n
Pipelines: crude oil, 5,900 km; refined products, 3,900 km; natural gas,
\n3,300 km<\/p>\n
Ports: Abadan (largely destroyed in fighting during 1980-88 war),
\nBandar Beheshti, Bandar-e Abbas, Bandar-e Bushehr, Bandar-e Khomeyni,
\nBandar-e Shahid Rajai, Khorramshahr (largely destroyed in fighting
\nduring 1980-88 war)<\/p>\n
Merchant marine: 133 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,631,836
\nGRT\/8,662,454 DWT; includes 36 cargo, 6 roll-on\/roll-off cargo, 33 petroleum,
\noils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 4 chemical tanker, 3 refrigerated cargo,
\n49 bulk, 2 combination bulk<\/p>\n
Civil air: 42 major transport aircraft<\/p>\n
Airports: 201 total, 175 usable; 82 with permanent-surface runways; 17
\nwith runways over 3,659 m; 17 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 68 with runways
\n1,220-2,439 m<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: radio relay extends throughout country; system
\ncentered in Tehran; 2,143,000 telephones; stations–62 AM, 30 FM, 250 TV;
\nsatellite earth stations–2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT;
\nHF and microwave to Turkey, Pakistan, Syria, Kuwait, and USSR<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nBranches: Islamic Republic of Iran Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force,
\nand Revolutionary Guard Corps (includes Basij militia and own ground, air, and
\nnaval forces), Gendarmerie<\/p>\n
Military manpower: males 15-49, 12,302,967; 7,332,614 fit for military
\nservice; 569,647 reach military age (21) annually<\/p>\n
Defense expenditures: 8% of GNP, or $7.8 billion (1989 est.)
\n.pa
\nIraq
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 434,920 km2; land area: 433,970 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Idaho<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: 3,454 km total; Iran 1,458 km, Iraq – Saudi Arabia
\nNeutral Zone 191 km, Jordan 134 km, Kuwait 240 km, Saudi Arabia 495 km,
\nSyria 605 km, Turkey 331 km<\/p>\n
Coastline: 58 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Continental shelf: not specific;<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 12 nm<\/p>\n
Disputes: Iraq began formal UN peace negotiations with Iran in August
\n1988 to end the war that began on 22 September 1980–sovereignty over the Shatt
\nal Arab waterway, troop withdrawal, freedom of navigation, and
\nprisoner of war exchange are the major issues for negotiation; Kurdish
\nquestion among Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and the USSR; shares Neutral Zone with
\nSaudi Arabia–in July 1975, Iraq and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement
\nto divide the zone between them, but the agreement must be ratified
\nbefore it becomes effective; disputes Kuwaiti ownership of Warbah and
\nBubiyan islands; periodic disputes with upstream riparian
\nSyria over Euphrates water rights; potential dispute over water
\ndevelopment plans by Turkey for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers<\/p>\n
Climate: desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless summers<\/p>\n
Terrain: mostly broad plains; reedy marshes in southeast; mountains
\nalong borders with Iran and Turkey<\/p>\n
Natural resources: crude oil, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur<\/p>\n
Land use: 12% arable land; 1% permanent crops; 9% meadows and pastures;
\n3% forest and woodland; 75% other; includes 4% irrigated<\/p>\n
Environment: development of Tigris-Euphrates river systems contingent
\nupon agreements with upstream riparians (Syria, Turkey); air and water
\npollution; soil degradation (salinization) and erosion; desertification<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 18,781,770 (July 1990), growth rate 3.9% (1990)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 46 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 7 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: 0 migrants\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 67 deaths\/1,000 live births (1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 66 years male, 68 years female (1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 7.3 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: noun–Iraqi(s); adjective–Iraqi<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: 75-80% Arab, 15-20% Kurdish, 5% Turkoman, Assyrian
\nor other<\/p>\n
Religion: 97% Muslim (60-65% Shia, 32-37% Sunni), 3% Christian or other<\/p>\n
Language: Arabic (official), Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions),
\nAssyrian, Armenian<\/p>\n
Literacy: 55-65% (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Labor force: 3,400,000 (1984); 39% services, 33% agriculture, 28%
\nindustry, severe labor shortage (1987); expatriate labor force about
\n1,000,000 (1989)<\/p>\n
Organized labor: less than 10% of the labor force<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: Republic of Iraq<\/p>\n
Type: republic<\/p>\n
Capital: Baghdad<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (muhafazat,
\nsingular–muhafazah); Al Anbar, Al Basrah, Al Muthanna,
\nAl Qadisiyah, An Najaf, As Sulaymaniyah, At Tamim, Babil,
\nBaghdad, Dahuk, Dhi Qar, Diyala, Arbil, Karbala,
\nMaysan, Ninawa, Salah ad Din, Wasit<\/p>\n
Independence: 3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under
\nBritish administration)<\/p>\n
Constitution: 22 September 1968, effective 16 July 1970 (interim
\nConstitution); new constitution now in final stages of drafting<\/p>\n
Legal system: based on Islamic law in special religious courts, civil law
\nsystem elsewhere; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction<\/p>\n
National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 17 July (1968)<\/p>\n
Executive branch: president, vice president, chairman of the Revolutionary
\nCommand Council, vice chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council,
\nprime minister, first deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Majlis al Umma)<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: Court of Cassation<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nChief of State and Head of Government–President Saddam HUSAYN
\n(since 16 July 1979); Vice President Taha Muhyi al-Din MARUF
\n(since 21 April 1974)<\/p>\n
Political parties: National Progressive Front is a coalition of the
\nArab Bath Socialist Party, Kurdistan Democratic Party, and Kurdistan
\nRevolutionary Party<\/p>\n
Suffrage: universal adult at age 18<\/p>\n
Elections:
\nNational Assembly–last held on 1 April 1989 (next to be held NA);
\nresults–Shia Arabs 30%, Kurds 15%, Sunni Arabs 53%, Christians 2% est.;
\nseats–(250 total) number of seats by party NA<\/p>\n
Communists: about 1,500 hardcore members<\/p>\n
Other political or pressure groups: political parties and activity
\nseverely restricted; possibly some opposition to regime from disaffected
\nmembers of the regime, Army officers, and religious and ethnic dissidents<\/p>\n
Member of: ACC, Arab League, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
\nIDB–Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
\nINTERPOL, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
\nWMO, WSG, WTO<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Dr. Mohamed Sadiq AL-MASHAT;
\nChancery at 1801 P Street NW, Washington DC 20036; telephone (202) 483-7500;
\nUS–Ambassador April C. GLASPIE; Embassy in Masbah Quarter (opposite the
\nForeign Ministry Club), Baghdad (mailing address is P. O. Box 2447 Alwiyah,
\nBaghdad); telephone \u00d5964\u00e5 (1) 719-6138 or 719-6139, 718-1840, 719-3791<\/p>\n
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with
\nthree green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
\nsimilar to the flags of the YAR which has one star and Syria which has two stars
\n(in a horizontal line centered in the white band)–all green and five-pointed;
\nalso similar to the flag of Egypt which has a symbolic eagle centered in the
\nwhite band<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: The Bathist regime engages in extensive central planning
\nand management of industrial production and foreign trade while leaving
\nsome small-scale industry and services and most agriculture to
\nprivate enterprise. The economy is dominated by the oil sector, which provides
\nabout 95% of foreign exchange earnings. Since the early 1980s financial
\nproblems, caused by war expenditures and damage to oil export facilities by
\nIran, have led the government to implement austerity measures and to reschedule
\nforeign debt payments. Oil exports have gradually increased with the
\nconstruction of new pipelines. Agricultural development remains hampered by
\nlabor shortages, salinization, and dislocations caused by previous land reform
\nand collectivization programs. The industrial sector, although accorded high
\npriority by the government, is under financial constraints. New investment funds
\nare generally allocated only to projects that result in import substitution or
\nforeign exchange earnings.<\/p>\n
GNP: $35 billion, per capita $1,940; real growth rate 5%
\n(1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 30-40% (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: less than 5% (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Budget: revenues $NA billion; expenditures $35 billion,
\nincluding capital expenditures of NA (1989)<\/p>\n
Exports: $12.5 billion (f.o.b., 1988);
\ncommodities–crude oil and refined products, machinery, chemicals, dates;
\npartners–US, Brazil, USSR, Italy, Turkey, France, Japan, Yugoslavia
\n(1988)<\/p>\n
Imports: $10.2 billion (c.i.f., 1988);
\ncommodities–manufactures, food;
\npartners–Turkey, US, FRG, UK, France, Japan, Romania, Yugoslavia,
\nBrazil (1988)<\/p>\n
External debt: $40 billion (1988 est.), excluding debt to Persian
\nGulf Arab states<\/p>\n
Industrial production: NA%<\/p>\n
Electricity: 9,902,000 kW capacity; 20,000 million kWh produced,
\n1,110 kWh per capita (1989)<\/p>\n
Industries: petroleum, chemicals, textiles, construction materials, food
\nprocessing<\/p>\n
Agriculture: accounts for less than 10% of GNP but 33% of labor force;
\nprincipal products–wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, other fruit,
\ncotton, wool; livestock–cattle, sheep; not self-sufficient in food output<\/p>\n
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-80), $3 million; Western
\n(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $607
\nmillion; OPEC bilateral aid (1980-89), $37.2 billion; Communist countries
\n(1970-88), $3.9 billion<\/p>\n
Currency: Iraqi dinar (plural–dinars); 1 Iraqi dinar (ID) = 1,000 fils<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: Iraqi dinars (ID) per US$1–0.3109 (fixed rate since 1982)<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: calendar year<\/p>\n
Communications
\nRailroads: 2,962 km total; 2,457 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 505 km
\n1.000-meter gauge<\/p>\n
Highways: 25,479 km total; 8,290 km paved, 5,534 km improved earth,
\n11,655 km unimproved earth<\/p>\n
Inland waterways: 1,015 km; Shatt al Arab usually navigable by maritime
\ntraffic for about 130 km, but closed since September 1980 because of Iran-Iraq
\nwar; Tigris and Euphrates navigable by shallow-draft steamers (of little
\nimportance); Shatt al Basrah canal navigable in sections by
\nshallow-draft vessels<\/p>\n
Ports: Umm Qasr, Khawr az Zubayr<\/p>\n
Merchant marine: 44 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 947,721
\nGRT\/1,703,988 DWT; includes 1 passenger, 1 passenger-cargo, 18 cargo,
\n1 refrigerated cargo, 3 roll-on\/roll-off cargo, 19 petroleum, oils, and
\nlubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker<\/p>\n
Pipelines: crude oil, 4,350 km; 725 km refined products; 1,360 km natural
\ngas<\/p>\n
Civil air: 64 major transport aircraft (including 30 IL-76s
\nused by the Iraq Air Force)<\/p>\n
Airports: 111 total, 101 usable; 72 with permanent-surface runways; 8 with
\nrunways over 3,659 m; 53 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 14 with runways
\n1,220-2,439 m<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: good network consists of coaxial cables, radio relay
\nlinks, and radiocommunication stations; 632,000 telephones; stations–9
\nAM, 1 FM, 81 TV; satellite earth stations–1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT,
\n1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 GORIZONT Atlantic Ocean in the Intersputnik
\nsystem; coaxial cable and radio relay to Kuwait, Jordan, Syria, and Turkey<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nBranches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Border Guard Force, mobile
\npolice force, Republican Guard<\/p>\n
Military manpower: males 15-49, 4,097,190; 2,284,417 fit for military
\nservice; 219,701 reach military age (18) annually<\/p>\n
Defense expenditures: NA
\n.pa
\nIraq – Saudi Arabia Neutral Zone
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 3,520 km2; land area: 3,520 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly larger than Rhode Island<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: 389 km total; 191 km Iraq, 198 km Saudi Arabia<\/p>\n
Coastline: none–landlocked<\/p>\n
Maritime claims: none–landlocked<\/p>\n
Climate: harsh, dry desert<\/p>\n
Terrain: sandy desert<\/p>\n
Natural resources: none<\/p>\n
Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures;
\n0% forest and woodland; 100% other (sandy desert)<\/p>\n
Environment: harsh, inhospitable<\/p>\n
Note: landlocked; located west of quadripoint with Iraq, Kuwait, and
\nSaudi Arabia<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: uninhabited<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: none<\/p>\n
Type: joint administration by Iraq and Saudi Arabia; in July 1975,
\nIraq and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement to divide the zone between
\nthem, but the agreement must be ratified, however, before it becomes
\neffective.<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: no economic activity<\/p>\n
Communications
\nHighways: none; some secondary roads<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nNote: defense is the joint responsibility of Iraq and Saudi Arabia
\n.pa
\nIreland
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 70,280 km2; land area: 68,890 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia<\/p>\n
Land boundary: 360 km with UK<\/p>\n
Coastline: 1,448 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Continental shelf: no precise definition;<\/p>\n
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 12 nm<\/p>\n
Disputes: maritime boundary with the UK; Northern Ireland question with
\nthe UK; Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Iceland, and the UK
\n(Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)<\/p>\n
Climate: temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current;
\nmild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time<\/p>\n
Terrain: mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged
\nhills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast<\/p>\n
Natural resources: zinc, lead, natural gas, crude oil, barite,
\ncopper, gypsum, limestone, dolomite, peat, silver<\/p>\n
Land use: 14% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 71% meadows and
\npastures; 5% forest and woodland; 10% other<\/p>\n
Environment: deforestation<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 3,500,212 (July 1990), growth rate -0.4% (1990)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 15 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 9 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: – 10 migrants\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths\/1,000 live births (1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 78 years female (1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 2.1 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: noun–Irishman(men), Irish (collective pl.); adjective–Irish<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: Celtic, with English minority<\/p>\n
Religion: 94% Roman Catholic, 4% Anglican, 2% other<\/p>\n
Language: Irish (Gaelic) and English; English is the language generally
\nused, with Gaelic spoken in a few areas, mostly along the western seaboard<\/p>\n
Literacy: 99%<\/p>\n
Labor force: 1,310,000; 57.3% services, 19.1% manufacturing and
\nconstruction, 14.8% agriculture, forestry, and fishing (1988)<\/p>\n
Organized labor: 36% of labor force<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: Republic of Ireland<\/p>\n
Type: republic<\/p>\n
Capital: Dublin<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: 26 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork,
\nDonegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick,
\nLongford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary,
\nWaterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow<\/p>\n
Independence: 6 December 1921 (from UK)<\/p>\n
Constitution: 29 December 1937; adopted 1937<\/p>\n
Legal system: based on English common law, substantially modified by
\nindigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court;
\nhas not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction<\/p>\n
National holiday: St. Patrick’s Day, 17 March<\/p>\n
Executive branch: president, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
\nCabinet<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Oireachtas) consists of an
\nupper house or Senate (Seanad Eireann) and a lower house or House of
\nRepresentatives (Dail Eireann)<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: Supreme Court<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nChief of State–President Dr. Patrick J. HILLERY (since 3 December
\n1976);<\/p>\n
Head of Government–Prime Minister Charles J. HAUGHEY (since 12 July
\n1989, the fourth time elected as prime minister)<\/p>\n
Political parties and leaders: Fianna Fail, Charles Haughey;
\nLabor Party, Richard Spring; Fine Gael, Alan Dukes; Communist Party
\nof Ireland, Michael O’Riordan; Workers’ Party, Proinsias DeRossa;
\nSinn Fein, Gerry Adams; Progressive Democrats, Desmond O’Malley;
\nnote–Prime Minister Haughey heads a coalition consisting of the
\nFianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats<\/p>\n
Suffrage: universal at age 18<\/p>\n
Elections:
\nPresident–last held 21 October 1983 (next to be held October
\n1990); results–Dr. Patrick Hillery reelected;<\/p>\n
Senate–last held on 17 February 1987 (next to be held February
\n1992);
\nresults–percent of vote by party NA;
\nseats–(60 total, 49 elected) Fianna Fail 30, Fine Gael 16, Labor 3,
\nIndependents 11;<\/p>\n
House of Representatives–last held on 12 July 1989 (next to be held
\nNA June 1994);
\nresults–Fianna Fail 44.0%, Fine Gael 29.4%, Labor Party 9.3%,
\nProgressive Democrats 5.4%, Workers’ Party 4.9%, Sinn Fein 1.1%,
\nindependents 5.9%;
\nseats–(166 total) Fianna Fail 77, Fine Gael 55, Labor Party 15,
\nWorkers’ Party 7, Progressive Democrats 6, independents 6<\/p>\n
Communists: under 500<\/p>\n
Member of: CCC, Council of Europe, EC, EMS, ESA, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD,
\nICAO, ICES, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
\nIPU, ISO, ITC, ITU, IWC–International Wheat Council, OECD, UN, UNESCO, UPU,
\nWHO, WIPO, WMO, WSG<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Padraic N. MACKERNAN; Chancery at
\n2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 462-3939;
\nthere are Irish Consulates General in Boston, Chicago, New York, and
\nSan Francisco;
\nUS–Ambassador Richard A. MOORE; Embassy at 42 Elgin Road,
\nBallsbridge, Dublin; telephone \u00d5353\u00e5 (1) 688777<\/p>\n
Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange;
\nsimilar to the flag of the Ivory Coast which is shorter and has the colors
\nreversed–orange (hoist side), white, and green; also similar to the flag of
\nItaly which is shorter and has colors of green (hoist side), white, and red<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: The economy is small, open, and trade dependent. Agriculture,
\nonce the most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry, which accounts for
\n35% of GNP and about 80% of exports and employs 20% of the labor force. The
\ngovernment has successfully reduced the rate of inflation from double-digit
\nfigures in the late 1970s to about 4% in 1989. In 1987, after years of deficits,
\nthe balance of payments was brought into the black. Unemployment, however,
\nis a serious problem. A 1989 unemployment rate of 17.7% placed Ireland
\nalong with Spain as the countries with the worst jobless records in
\nWestern Europe.<\/p>\n
GDP: $31.4 billion, per capita $8,900; real growth rate 4.3% (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.2% (1989)<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: 17.7% (1989)<\/p>\n
Budget: revenues $10.9 billion; expenditures $11.2 billion, including
\ncapital expenditures of $1.5 billion (1989)<\/p>\n
Exports: $20.3 billion (f.o.b., 1989); commodities–live animals,
\nanimal products, chemicals, data processing equipment, industrial machinery;
\npartners–EC 74% (UK 35%, FRG 11%, France 9%), US 8%<\/p>\n
Imports: $17.3 billion (c.i.f., 1989); commodities–food, animal
\nfeed, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products, machinery, textiles,
\nclothing; partners–EC 66% (UK 42%, FRG 9%, France 4%), US 16%<\/p>\n
External debt: $16.1 billion (1988)<\/p>\n
Industrial production: growth rate 9.5% (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Electricity: 4,957,000 kW capacity; 14,480 million kWh produced,
\n4,080 kWh per capita (1989)<\/p>\n
Industries: food products, brewing, textiles, clothing, chemicals,
\npharmaceuticals, machinery, transportation equipment, glass and crystal<\/p>\n
Agriculture: accounts for 11% of GNP and 14.8% of the labor force;
\nprincipal crops–turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat;
\nlivestock–meat and dairy products; 85% self-sufficient in food; food
\nshortages include bread grain, fruits, vegetables<\/p>\n
Aid: NA<\/p>\n
Currency: Irish pound (plural–pounds); 1 Irish pound (LIr) = 100 pence<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: Irish pounds (LIr) per US$1–0.6399 (January 1990),
\n0.7047 (1989), 0.6553 (1988), 0.6720 (1987), 0.7454 (1986), 0.9384 (1985)<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: calendar year<\/p>\n
Communications
\nRailroads: Irish National Railways (CIE) operates 1,947 km 1.602-meter
\ngauge, government owned; 485 km double track; 38 km electrified<\/p>\n
Highways: 92,294 km total; 87,422 km surfaced, 4,872 km gravel or crushed
\nstone<\/p>\n
Inland waterways: limited for commercial traffic<\/p>\n
Pipelines: natural gas, 225 km<\/p>\n
Ports: Cork, Dublin, Shannon Estuary, Waterford<\/p>\n
Merchant marine: 67 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 113,569 GRT\/139,681
\nDWT; includes 3 short-sea passenger, 29 cargo, 2 refrigerated cargo,
\n2 container, 23 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 specialized
\ntanker, 2 chemical tanker, 5 bulk<\/p>\n
Civil air: 23 major transport aircraft<\/p>\n
Airports: 40 total, 37 usable; 18 with permanent-surface runways;
\nnone with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 5 with
\nrunways 1,220-2,439 m<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: small, modern system using cable and radio relay
\ncircuits; 900,000 telephones; stations–45 AM, 16 (29 relays) FM, 18
\n(68 relays) TV; 5 coaxial submarine cables; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth
\nstations<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nBranches: Army, Naval Service, Army Air Corps<\/p>\n
Military manpower: males 15-49, 870,161; 705,765 fit for military service;
\n33,259 reach military age (17) annually<\/p>\n
Defense expenditures: 1.6% of GDP, or $500 million (1989 est.)
\n.pa
\nIsrael
\n(also see separate Gaza Strip and West Bank entries)
\nNote: The Arab territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 war are not
\nincluded in the data below. As stated in the 1978 Camp David Accords and
\nreaffirmed by President Reagan’s 1 September 1982 peace initiative, the final
\nstatus of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, their relationship with their neighbors,
\nand a peace treaty between Israel and Jordan are to be negotiated among the
\nconcerned parties. The Camp David Accords further specify that these
\nnegotiations will resolve the location of the respective boundaries. Pending the
\ncompletion of this process, it is US policy that the final status of the West
\nBank and Gaza Strip has yet to be determined (see West Bank and Gaza Strip
\nentries). On 25 April 1982 Israel relinquished control of the Sinai to Egypt.
\nStatistics for the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights are included in the Syria
\nentry.<\/p>\n
Geography
\nTotal area: 20,770 km2; land area: 20,330 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly larger than New Jersey<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: 1,006 km total; Egypt 255 km, Jordan 238 km,
\nLebanon 79 km, Syria 76 km, West Bank 307, Gaza Strip 51 km<\/p>\n
Coastline: 273 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Continental shelf: to depth of exploitation;<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 6 nm<\/p>\n
Disputes: separated from Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank by the
\n1949 Armistice Line; differences with Jordan over the location
\nof the 1949 Armistice Line which separates the two countries;
\nWest Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli occupied with status
\nto be determined; Golan Heights is Israeli occupied; Israeli troops in southern
\nLebanon since June 1982; water-sharing issues with Jordan<\/p>\n
Climate: temperate; hot and dry in desert areas<\/p>\n
Terrain: Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains;
\nJordan Rift Valley<\/p>\n
Natural resources: copper, phosphates, bromide, potash, clay, sand,
\nsulfur, asphalt, manganese, small amounts of natural gas and crude oil<\/p>\n
Land use: 17% arable land; 5% permanent crops; 40% meadows and pastures;
\n6% forest and woodland; 32% other; includes 11% irrigated<\/p>\n
Environment: sandstorms may occur during spring and summer; limited
\narable land and natural water resources pose serious constraints; deforestation;<\/p>\n
Note: there are 173 Jewish settlements in the West Bank, 35 in the
\nIsraeli-occupied Golan Heights, 18 in the Gaza Strip, and 14 Israeli-built
\nJewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 4,409,218 (July 1990), growth rate 1.5% (1989); includes
\n70,000 Jewish settlers in the West Bank, 10,500 in the Israeli-occupied
\nGolan Heights, 2,500 in the Gaza Strip, and 110,000 in East Jerusalem
\n(1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 22 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 6 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: 0 migrants\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 9 deaths\/1,000 live births (July 1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 76 years male, 79 years female (July 1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 2.9 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: noun–Israeli(s); adjective–Israeli<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: 83% Jewish, 17% non-Jewish (mostly Arab)<\/p>\n
Religion: 83% Judaism, 13.1% Islam (mostly Sunni Muslim), 2.3% Christian,
\n1.6% Druze<\/p>\n
Language: Hebrew (official); Arabic used officially for Arab minority;
\nEnglish most commonly used foreign language<\/p>\n
Literacy: 88% Jews, 70% Arabs<\/p>\n
Labor force: 1,400,000 (1984 est.); 29.5% public services; 22.8% industry,
\nmining, and manufacturing; 12.8% commerce; 9.5% finance and business;
\n6.8% transport, storage, and communications; 6.5% construction and public works;
\n5.5% agriculture, forestry, and fishing; 5.8% personal and other services;
\n1.0% electricity and water (1983)<\/p>\n
Organized labor: 90% of labor force<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: State of Israel<\/p>\n
Type: republic<\/p>\n
Capital: Israel proclaimed Jerusalem its capital in 1950, but the US,
\nlike nearly all other countries, maintains its Embassy in Tel Aviv<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: 6 districts (mehozot, singular–mehoz); Central,
\nHaifa, Jerusalem, Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv<\/p>\n
Independence: 14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British
\nadministration)<\/p>\n
Constitution: no formal constitution; some of the functions of a
\nconstitution are filled by the Declaration of Establishment (1948), the basic
\nlaws of the Parliament (Knesset), and the Israeli citizenship law<\/p>\n
Legal system: mixture of English common law, British Mandate
\nregulations, and, in personal matters, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim legal
\nsystems; in December 1985 Israel informed the UN Secretariat that it would
\nno longer accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction<\/p>\n
National holiday: Independence Day, 10 May 1989; Israel declared
\nindependence on 14 May 1948, but the Jewish calendar is lunar and the holiday
\nmay occur in April or May<\/p>\n
Executive branch: president, prime minister, vice prime minister, Cabinet<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: unicameral Knesset<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: Supreme Court<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nChief of State–President Gen. Chaim HERZOG (since 5 May 1983);<\/p>\n
Head of Government–Prime Minister Yitzhak SHAMIR (since 20 October 1986);
\nVice Prime Minister Shimon PERES (Prime Minister from 13 September 1984 to
\n20 October 1986, when he rotated to Vice Prime Minister)<\/p>\n
Political parties and leaders: Israel currently has a national unity
\ngovernment comprising five parties that hold 95 of the Knesset’s
\n120 seats; Members of the unity government–Likud bloc, Prime
\nMinister Yitzhak Shamir; Labor Party, Vice Prime Minister and Finance
\nMinister Shimon Peres; Sephardic Torah Guardians (SHAS), Minister of
\nImmigrant Absorption Yitzhak Peretz; National Religious Party, Minister of
\nReligious Affairs Zevulun Hammer; Agudat Yisrael, Deputy Minister
\nof Labor and Social Welfare Moshe Zeev Feldman;<\/p>\n
Opposition parties–Tehiya Party, Yuval Ne’eman; Tzomet Party,
\nRafael Eytan; Moledet Party, Rehavam Ze’evi; Degel HaTorah, Avraham
\nRavitz; Citizens’ Rights Movement, Shulamit Aloni; United Workers’ Party
\n(MAPAM), Yair Tzaban; Center Movement-Shinui, Amnon Rubenstein; New
\nCommunist Party of Israel (RAKAH), Meir Wilner; Progressive List for
\nPeace, Muhammad Mi’ari; Arab Democratic Party, Abd Al Wahab Darawshah<\/p>\n
Suffrage: universal at age 18<\/p>\n
Elections:
\nPresident–last held 23 February 1988 (next to be held February
\n1994); results–Gen. Chaim Herzog reelected by Knesset;<\/p>\n
Parliament–last held 1 November 1988 (next to be held by
\nNovember 1992);
\nseats–(120 total) Likud bloc 40, Labor Party 39, SHAS 6, National Religious
\nParty 5, Agudat Yisrael 5, Citizens’ Rights Movement 5, RAKAH 4,
\nTehiya Party 3, MAPAM 3, Tzomet Party 2, Moledet Party 2, Degel HaTorah 2,
\nCenter Movement-Shinui 2, Progressive List for Peace 1, Arab Democratic Party 1<\/p>\n
Communists: Hadash (predominantly Arab but with Jews in its leadership)
\nhas some 1,500 members<\/p>\n
Other political or pressure groups: Gush Emunim, Jewish nationalists
\nadvocating Jewish settlement on the West Bank and Gaza Strip; Peace Now,
\ncritical of government’s West Bank\/Gaza Strip and Lebanon policies<\/p>\n
Member of: CCC, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAC, ICAO, IDA,
\nIDB–Inter-American Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOOC, INTELSAT,
\nINTERPOL, IPU, ITU, IWC–International Wheat Council, OAS (observer), UN,
\nUNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WSG, WTO<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Moshe ARAD; Chancery at
\n3514 International Drive NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 364-5500;
\nthere are Israeli Consulates General in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston,
\nLos Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco;
\nUS–Ambassador William A. BROWN; Embassy at 71 Hayarkon Street,
\nTel Aviv (mailing address is APO New York 09672); telephone \u00d5972\u00e5 (3) 654338;
\nthere is a US Consulate General in Jerusalem<\/p>\n
Flag: white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as the
\nMagen David (Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal blue bands
\nnear the top and bottom edges of the flag<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: Israel has a market economy with substantial government
\nparticipation. It depends on imports for crude oil, food, grains, raw materials,
\nand military equipment. Despite limited natural resources, Israel has developed
\nits agriculture and industry sectors on an intensive scale over the past 20
\nyears. Industry accounts for about 23% of the labor force, agriculture for 6%,
\nand services for most of the balance. Diamonds, high-technology
\nmachinery, and agricultural products (fruits and vegetables) are the
\nbiggest export earners. The balance of payments has traditionally
\nbeen negative, but is offset by large transfer payments and foreign loans.
\nNearly two-thirds of Israel’s $16 billion external debt is owed to
\nthe US, which is its major source for economic and military aid.
\nTo earn needed foreign exchange, Israel must continue to exploit
\nhigh-technology niches in the international market, such as medical
\nscanning equipment. In 1987 the economy showed a 5.2% growth in real GNP, the
\nbest gain in nearly a decade; in 1988-89 the gain was only 1% annually,
\nlargely because of the economic impact of the Palestinian uprising
\n(intifadah). Inflation dropped from an annual rate of over 400%
\nin 1984 to about 16% in 1987-88 without any major increase in
\nunemployment.<\/p>\n
GNP: $38 billion, per capita $8,700; real growth rate 1% (1989)<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 20% (1989)<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: 9% (December 1989)<\/p>\n
Budget: revenues $24.2 billion; expenditures $26.3 billion, including
\ncapital expenditures of $7 billion (FY89 est.)<\/p>\n
Exports: $10.4 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.); commodities–polished
\ndiamonds, citrus and other fruits, textiles and clothing, processed foods,
\nfertilizer and chemical products, military hardware, electronics;
\npartners–US, UK, FRG, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy<\/p>\n
Imports: $12.4 billion (c.i.f., 1989 est.); commodities–military
\nequipment, rough diamonds, oil, chemicals, machinery, iron and steel, cereals,
\ntextiles, vehicles, ships, aircraft; partners–US, FRG, UK, Switzerland,
\nItaly, Belgium, Luxembourg<\/p>\n
External debt: $16.4 billion (March 1989)<\/p>\n
Industrial production: growth rate – 1.5% (1989)<\/p>\n
Electricity: 4,392,000 kW capacity; 17,500 million kWh produced,
\n4,000 kWh per capita (1989)<\/p>\n
Industries: food processing, diamond cutting and polishing, textiles,
\nclothing, chemicals, metal products, military equipment, transport equipment,
\nelectrical equipment, miscellaneous machinery, potash mining, high-technology
\nelectronics, tourism<\/p>\n
Agriculture: accounts for 5% of GNP; largely self-sufficient in food
\nproduction, except for bread grains; principal products–citrus and other
\nfruits, vegetables, cotton; livestock products–beef, dairy, and poultry<\/p>\n
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $15.8 billion; Western
\n(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $2.2 billion<\/p>\n
Currency: new Israeli shekel (plural–shekels);
\n1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1–1.9450
\n(January 1990), 1.9164 (1989), 1.5989 (1988), 1.5946 (1987), 1.4878 (1986),
\n1.1788 (1985)<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March<\/p>\n
Communications
\nRailroads: 594 km 1.435-meter gauge, single track; diesel operated<\/p>\n
Highways: 4,500 km; majority is bituminous surfaced<\/p>\n
Pipelines: crude oil, 708 km; refined products, 290 km; natural gas, 89 km<\/p>\n
Ports: Ashdod, Haifa, Elat<\/p>\n
Merchant marine: 31 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 483,424
\nGRT\/560,085 DWT; includes 9 cargo, 20 container, 2 roll-on\/roll-off cargo<\/p>\n
Civil air: 27 major transport aircraft<\/p>\n
Airports: 55 total, 52 usable; 26 with permanent-surface runways;
\nnone with runways over 3,659 m; 6 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
\n11 with runways 1,220-2,439 m<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: most highly developed in the Middle East though not
\nthe largest; good system of coaxial cable and radio relay; 1,800,000 telephones;
\nstations–11 AM, 24 FM, 54 TV; 2 submarine cables; satellite earth stations–2
\nAtlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nBranches: Israel Defense Forces; historically there have been no separate
\nIsraeli military services; ground, air, and naval components are branches of
\nIsrael Defense Forces<\/p>\n
Military manpower: eligible 15-49, 2,159,462; of the 1,089,346 males
\n15-49, 898,272 are fit for military service; of the 1,070,116 females 15-49,
\n878,954 are fit for military service; 43,644 males and 41,516 females reach
\nmilitary age (18) annually; both sexes are liable for military service<\/p>\n
Defense expenditures: 8.5% of GNP, or $3.2 billion (1989 est.);
\nnote–does not include an estimated $1.8 billion in US military aid
\n.pa
\nItaly
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 301,230 km2; land area: 294,020 km2; includes Sardinia
\nand Sicily<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly larger than Arizona<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: 1,902.2 km total; Austria 430 km, France 488 km,
\nSan Marino 39 km, Switzerland 740 km, Vatican City 3.2 km, Yugoslavia
\n202 km<\/p>\n
Coastline: 4,996 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Continental shelf: 200 m or to depth of exploitation;<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 12 nm<\/p>\n
Disputes: South Tyrol question with Austria<\/p>\n
Climate: predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry
\nin south<\/p>\n
Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands<\/p>\n
Natural resources: mercury, potash, marble, sulfur, dwindling
\nnatural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, coal<\/p>\n
Land use: 32% arable land; 10% permanent crops; 17% meadows and pastures;
\n22% forest and woodland; 19% other; includes 10% irrigated<\/p>\n
Environment: regional risks include landslides, mudflows, snowslides,
\nearthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding, pollution; land sinkage in Venice<\/p>\n
Note: strategic location dominating central Mediterranean as
\nwell as southern sea and air approaches to Western Europe<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 57,664,405 (July 1990), growth rate 0.2% (1990)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 10 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 9 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: 1 migrant\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths\/1,000 live births (1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 81 years female (1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 1.4 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: noun–Italian(s); adjective–Italian<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: primarily Italian but population includes small clusters
\nof German-, French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian-Italians
\nin the south; Sicilians; Sardinians<\/p>\n
Religion: almost 100% nominally Roman Catholic<\/p>\n
Language: Italian; parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region are predominantly
\nGerman speaking; significant French-speaking minority in Valle d’Aosta region;
\nSlovene-speaking minority in the Trieste-Gorizia area<\/p>\n
Literacy: 93%<\/p>\n
Labor force: 23,670,000; 56.7% services, 37.9% industry, 5.4% agriculture
\n(1987)<\/p>\n
Organized labor: 40-45% of labor force (est.)<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: Italian Republic<\/p>\n
Type: republic<\/p>\n
Capital: Rome<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: 20 regions (regioni, singular–regione);
\nAbruzzi, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia,
\nLazio, Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise, Piemonte, Puglia, Sardegna, Sicilia,
\nToscana, Trentino-Alto Adige, Umbria, Valle d’Aosta, Veneto<\/p>\n
Independence: 17 March 1861, Kingdom of Italy proclaimed<\/p>\n
Constitution: 1 January 1948<\/p>\n
Legal system: based on civil law system, with ecclesiastical law
\ninfluence; judicial review under certain conditions in Constitutional Court;
\nhas not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction<\/p>\n
National holiday: Anniversary of the Republic, 2 June (1946)<\/p>\n
Executive branch: president, prime minister,<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Parlamento) consists of
\nan upper chamber or Senate (Senato) and a lower chamber or Chamber of Deputies
\n(Camera dei Deputati)<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court (Corte Costituzionale)<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nChief of State–President Francesco COSSIGA (since 3 July 1985);<\/p>\n
Head of Government–Prime Minister Giulio ANDREOTTI (since 22 July 1989,
\nheads the government for the sixth time); Deputy Prime Minister Claudio
\nMARTELLI (since 23 July 1989)<\/p>\n
Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Party (DC), Arnaldo
\nForlani (general secretary), Ciriaco De Mita (president); Communist Party
\n(PCI), Achille Occhetto (secretary general); Socialist Party (PSI), Bettino
\nCraxi (party secretary); Social Democratic Party (PSDI), Antonio Cariglia (party
\nsecretary); Liberal Party (PLI), Renato Altissimo (secretary general); Italian
\nSocial Movement (MSI), Giuseppe (Pino) Rauti (national secretary); Republican
\nParty (PRI), Giorgio La Malfa (political secretary); Italy’s 49th postwar
\ngovernment was formed on 23 July 1989, with Prime Minister Andreotti,
\na Christian Democrat, presiding over a five-party coalition consisting of the
\nChristian Democrats, Socialists, Social Democrats, Republicans, and Liberals<\/p>\n
Suffrage: universal at age 18 (except in senatorial elections, where
\nminimum age is 25)<\/p>\n
Elections:
\nSenate–last held 14-15 June 1987 (next to be held by June 1992);
\nresults–DC 33.9%, PCI 28.3%, PSI 10.7%, others 27.1%;
\nseats–(320 total, 315 elected) DC 125, PCI 100, PSI 36, others 54;<\/p>\n
Chamber of Deputies–last held 14-15 June 1987 (next to be held by
\nJune 1992);
\nresults–DC 34.3%, PCI 26.6%, PSI 14.3%, MSI 5.9%, PRI 3.7%, PSDI 3.0%,
\nRadicals 2.6%, Greens 2.5%, PLI 2.1%, Proletarian Democrats 1.7%,
\nothers 3.3%;
\nseats–(630 total) DC 234, PCI 177, PSI 94, MSI 35, PRI 21, PSDI 17,
\nRadicals 13, Greens 13, PLI 11, Proletarian Democrats 8, others 7<\/p>\n
Communists: 1,673,751 members (1983)<\/p>\n
Other political or pressure groups: Vatican City; three major
\ntrade union confederations (CGIL–Communist dominated, CISL–Christian
\nDemocratic, and UIL–Social Democratic, Socialist, and Republican);
\nItalian manufacturers association (Confindustria); organized farm groups
\n(Confcoltivatori, Confagricoltura)<\/p>\n
Member of: ADB, ASSIMER, CCC, Council of Europe, DAC, EC, ECOWAS, EIB,
\nEMS, ESA, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAC, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IDB–Inter-American
\nDevelopment Bank, IFAD, IEA, IFC, IHO, ILO, ILZSG, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
\nIOOC, IPU, IRC, ITC, ITU, NATO, OAS (observer), OECD, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WEU, WHO,
\nWIPO, WMO, WSG<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Rinaldo PETRIGNANI; Chancery at
\n1601 Fuller Street NW, Washington DC 20009; telephone (202) 328-5500;
\nthere are Italian Consulates General in Boston, Chicago, Houston, New Orleans,
\nLos Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Consulates in Detroit and
\nNewark (New Jersey);
\nUS–Ambassador Peter F. SECCHIA; Embassy at Via Veneto 119\/A, 00187-Rome
\n(mailing address is APO New York 09794); telephone \u00d539\u00e5 (6) 46741; there are
\nUS Consulates General in Florence, Genoa, Milan, Naples, and Palermo (Sicily)<\/p>\n
Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red;
\nsimilar to the flag of Ireland which is longer and is green (hoist side), white,
\nand orange; also similar to the flag of the Ivory Coast which has the colors
\nreversed–orange (hoist side), white, and green<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: Since World War II the economy has changed from one based on
\nagriculture into a ranking industrial economy, with approximately the same total
\nand per capita output as France and the UK. The country is still divided into a
\ndeveloped industrial north, dominated by large private companies and state
\nenterprises and an undeveloped agricultural south. Services account for 58% of
\nGDP, industry 37%, and agriculture 5%. Most raw materials needed by industry and
\nover 75% of energy requirements must be imported. The economic recovery that
\nbegan in mid-1983 has continued through 1989, with the economy growing at an
\nannual average rate of 3%. For the 1990s, Italy faces the problems of
\nrefurbishing a tottering communications system, curbing the increasing
\npollution in major industrial centers, and adjusting to the new
\ncompetitive forces accompanying the ongoing economic integration of the
\nEuropean Community.<\/p>\n
GDP: $803.3 billion, per capita $14,000; real growth rate 3.3% (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.6% (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: 11.9% (1989)<\/p>\n
Budget: revenues $355 billion; expenditures $448 billion,
\nincluding capital expenditures of $NA (1989)<\/p>\n
Exports: $141.6 billion (f.o.b., 1989); commodities–textiles,
\nwearing apparel, metals, transportation equipment, chemicals;
\npartners–EC 57%, US 9%, OPEC 4%<\/p>\n
Imports: $143.1 billion (f.o.b., 1989); commodities–petroleum,
\nindustrial machinery, chemicals, metals, food, agricultural products;
\npartners–EC 57%, OPEC 6%, US 6%<\/p>\n
External debt: NA<\/p>\n
Industrial production: growth rate 2.9% (1989)<\/p>\n
Electricity: 56,022,000 kW capacity; 201,400 million kWh produced,
\n3,500 kWh per capita (1989)<\/p>\n
Industries: machinery and transportation equipment, iron and steel,
\nchemicals, food processing, textiles, motor vehicles<\/p>\n
Agriculture: accounts for about 5% of GNP and 5% of the
\nwork force; self-sufficient in foods other than meat and dairy products;
\nprincipal crops–fruits, vegetables, grapes, potatoes, sugar beets,
\nsoybeans, grain, olives; fish catch of 554,000 metric tons in 1987<\/p>\n
Aid: donor–ODA and OOF commitments (1970-87), $18.7 billion<\/p>\n
Currency: Italian lira (plural–lire); 1 Italian lira (Lit) = 100
\ncentesimi<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: Italian lire (Lit) per US$1–1,262.5 (January 1990),
\n1,372.1 (1989), 1,301.6 (1988), 1,296.1 (1987), 1,490.8 (1986), 1,909.4 (1985)<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: calendar year<\/p>\n
Communications
\nRailroads: 20,011 km total; 16,066 km 1.435-meter government-owned
\nstandard gauge (8,999 km electrified); 3,945 km privately owned–2,100 km
\n1.435-meter standard gauge (1,155 km electrified) and 1,845 km 0.950-meter
\nnarrow gauge (380 km electrified)<\/p>\n
Highways: 294,410 km total; autostrada 5,900 km, state highways 45,170
\nkm, provincial highways 101,680 km, communal highways 141,660 km; 260,500 km
\nconcrete, bituminous, or stone block, 26,900 km gravel and crushed stone,
\n7,010 km earth<\/p>\n
Inland waterways: 2,400 km for various types of commercial
\ntraffic, although of limited overall value<\/p>\n
Pipelines: crude oil, 1,703 km; refined products, 2,148 km; natural gas,
\n19,400 km<\/p>\n
Ports: Cagliari (Sardinia), Genoa, La Spezia, Livorno, Naples,
\nPalermo (Sicily), Taranto, Trieste, Venice<\/p>\n
Merchant marine: 547 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,871,505
\nGRT\/10,805,368 DWT; includes 6 passenger, 41 short-sea passenger, 100 cargo,
\n5 refrigerated cargo, 22 container, 72 roll-on\/roll-off cargo, 4 vehicle
\ncarrier, 1 multifunction large-load carrier, 2 livestock carrier, 147 petroleum,
\noils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 37 chemical tanker, 29 liquefied gas, 8
\nspecialized tanker, 16 combination ore\/oil, 55 bulk, 2 combination bulk<\/p>\n
Civil air: 132 major transport aircraft<\/p>\n
Airports: 143 total, 138 usable; 88 with permanent-surface runways; 2
\nwith runways over 3,659 m; 35 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 42 with runways
\n1,220-2,439 m<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: well engineered, constructed, and operated;
\n28,000,000 telephones; stations–144 AM, 54 (over 1,800 repeaters) FM,
\n135 (over 1,300 repeaters) TV; 22 submarine cables; communication satellite
\nearth stations operating in INTELSAT 3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean,
\nINMARSAT, and EUTELSAT systems<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nBranches: Army, Navy, Air Force<\/p>\n
Military manpower: males 15-49, 14,721,704; 12,855,022 fit for military
\nservice; 430,782 reach military age (18) annually<\/p>\n
Defense expenditures: 2.4% of GDP, or $19 billion (1989 est.)
\n.pa
\nIvory Coast
\n(also known as Cote d’Ivoire)
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 322,460 km2; land area: 318,000 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly larger than New Mexico<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: 3,110 km total; Burkina 584 km, Ghana 668 km, Guinea
\n610 km, Liberia 716 km, Mali 532 km<\/p>\n
Coastline: 515 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Continental shelf: 200 m;<\/p>\n
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 12 nm<\/p>\n
Climate: tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three
\nseasons–warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May),
\nhot and wet (June to October)<\/p>\n
Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest<\/p>\n
Natural resources: crude oil, diamonds, manganese, iron ore,
\ncobalt, bauxite, copper<\/p>\n
Land use: 9% arable land; 4% permanent crops; 9% meadows and pastures;
\n26% forest and woodland; 52% other; includes NEGL% irrigated<\/p>\n
Environment: coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; severe
\ndeforestation<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 12,478,024 (July 1990), growth rate 4.0% (1990)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 48 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 13 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: 4 migrants\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 100 deaths\/1,000 live births (1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 52 years male, 56 years female (1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 6.9 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: noun–Ivorian(s); adjective–Ivorian<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: over 60 ethnic groups; most important are the Baoule
\n23%, Bete 18%, Senoufou 15%, Malinke 11%, and Agni; about 2 million foreign
\nAfricans, mostly Burkinabe; about 130,000 to 330,000 non-Africans
\n(30,000 French and 100,000 to 300,000 Lebanese)<\/p>\n
Religion: 63% indigenous, 25% Muslim, 12% Christian<\/p>\n
Language: French (official), over 60 native dialects; Dioula most widely
\nspoken<\/p>\n
Literacy: 42.7%<\/p>\n
Labor force: 5,718,000; over 85% of population engaged in agriculture, for
\nestry,
\nlivestock raising; about 11% of labor force are wage earners, nearly half in
\nagriculture and the remainder in government, industry, commerce, and
\nprofessions; 54% of population of working age (1985)<\/p>\n
Organized labor: 20% of wage labor force<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: Republic of the Ivory Coast; note–the local official
\nname is Republique de Cote d’Ivoire<\/p>\n
Type: republic; one-party presidential regime established 1960<\/p>\n
Capital: Abidjan (capital city changed to Yamoussoukro in March 1983 but
\nnot recognized by US)<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: 49 departments (departements,
\nsingular–(departement); Abengourou, Abidjan, Aboisso, Adzope, Agboville,
\nBangolo, Beoumi, Biankouma, Bondoukou, Bongouanou, Bouafle, Bouake, Bouna,
\nBoundiali, Dabakala, Daloa, Danane, Daoukro, Dimbokro, Divo, Duekoue,
\nFerkessedougou, Gagnoa, Grand-Lahou, Guiglo, Issia, Katiola, Korhogo, Lakota,
\nMan, Mankono, Mbahiakro, Odienne, Oume, Sakassou, San-Pedro, Sassandra,
\nSeguela, Sinfra, Soubre, Tabou, Tanda, Tengrela, Tiassale, Touba,
\nToumodi, Vavoua, Yamoussoukro, Zuenoula<\/p>\n
Independence: 7 August 1960 (from France)<\/p>\n
Constitution: 3 November 1960<\/p>\n
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law;
\njudicial review in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; has not
\naccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction<\/p>\n
National holiday: National Day, 7 December<\/p>\n
Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nChief of State and Head of Government–President Dr. Felix
\nHOUPHOUET-BOIGNY (since 27 November 1960)<\/p>\n
Political parties and leaders: only party–Democratic Party of
\nthe Ivory Coast (PDCI), Dr. Felix Houphouet-Boigny<\/p>\n
Suffrage: universal at age 21<\/p>\n
Elections:
\nPresident–last held 27 October 1985 (next to be held October 1990);
\nresults–President Felix Houphouet-Boigny was reelected without
\nopposition to his fifth consecutive five-year term;<\/p>\n
National Assembly–last held 10 November 1985 (next to be held
\n10 November 1990);
\nresults–PDCI is the only party;
\nseats–(175 total) PDCI 175<\/p>\n
Communists: no Communist party; possibly some sympathizers<\/p>\n
Member of: ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, EAMA, ECA, ECOWAS, EIB (associate),
\nEntente, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
\nINTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, ITU, Niger River Commission, NAM, OAU, OCAM, UN,
\nUNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Charles GOMIS; Chancery at
\n2424 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 797-0300;
\nUS–Ambassador Kenneth BROWN; Embassy at 5 Rue Jesse Owens, Abidjan
\n(mailing address is B. P. 1712, Abidjan 01); telephone \u00d5225\u00e5 32-09-79<\/p>\n
Flag: three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side), white, and green;
\nsimilar to the flag of Ireland which is longer and has the colors
\nreversed–green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of
\nItaly which is green (hoist side), white, and red; design was based on the flag
\nof France<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: The Ivory Coast is among the world’s largest producers and
\nexporters of coffee, cocoa beans, and palm-kernel oil. Consequently, the economy
\nis highly sensitive to fluctuations in international prices for coffee and cocoa
\nand to weather conditions. Despite attempts by the government to diversify, the
\neconomy is still largely dependent on agriculture and related industries. The
\nagricultural sector accounts for over one-third of GDP and about 80% of export
\nearnings and employs about 85% of the labor force. A collapse of world cocoa and
\ncoffee prices in 1986 threw the economy into a recession, from which the country
\nhad not recovered by 1989.<\/p>\n
GDP: $10.0 billion, per capita $900; real growth rate – 6.4% (1988)<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.5% (1988)<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: 14% (1985)<\/p>\n
Budget: revenues $1.6 billion (1986); expenditures $2.3 billion, including
\ncapital expenditures of $504 million (1988 est.)<\/p>\n
Exports: $2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1988); commodities–cocoa 30%,
\ncoffee 20%, tropical woods 11%, cotton, bananas, pineapples, palm oil, cotton;
\npartners–France, FRG, Netherlands, US, Belgium, Spain (1985)<\/p>\n
Imports: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1988); commodities–manufactured
\ngoods and semifinished products 50%, consumer goods 40%, raw materials and
\nfuels 10%; partners–France, other EC, Nigeria, US, Japan (1985)<\/p>\n
External debt: $14.7 billion (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Industrial production: growth rate 0% (1987)<\/p>\n
Electricity: 1,081,000 kW capacity; 2,440 million kWh produced,
\n210 kWh per capita (1989)<\/p>\n
Industries: foodstuffs, wood processing, oil refinery, automobile
\nassembly, textiles, fertilizer, beverage<\/p>\n
Agriculture: most important sector, contributing one-third to GDP
\nand 80% to exports; cash crops include coffee, cocoa beans, timber,
\nbananas, palm kernels, rubber; food crops–corn, rice, manioc, sweet
\npotatoes; not selfsufficient in bread grain and dairy products<\/p>\n
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis on a small scale for the
\ninternational drug trade<\/p>\n
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $344 million; Western
\n(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $4.6 billion<\/p>\n
Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (plural–francs);
\n1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF)
\nper US$1–287.99 (January 1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988), 300.54 (1987),
\n346.30 (1986), 449.26 (1985)<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: calendar year<\/p>\n
Communications
\nRailroads: 660 km (Burkina border to Abidjan, 1.00-meter gauge,
\nsingle track, except 25 km Abidjan-Anyama section is double track)<\/p>\n
Highways: 46,600 km total; 3,600 km bituminous and bituminous-treated
\nsurface; 32,000 km gravel, crushed stone, laterite, and improved earth; 11,000
\nkm unimproved<\/p>\n
Inland waterways: 980 km navigable rivers, canals, and numerous coastal
\nlagoons<\/p>\n
Ports: Abidjan, San-Pedro<\/p>\n
Merchant marine: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 71,945 GRT\/
\n90,684 DWT; includes 5 cargo, 1 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker,
\n1 chemical tanker<\/p>\n
Civil air: 12 major transport aircraft, including multinationally owned
\nAir Afrique fleet<\/p>\n
Airports: 49 total, 42 usable; 7 with permanent-surface runways;
\nnone with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 16 with
\nrunways 1,220-2,439 m<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: system above African average; consists of open-wire
\nlines and radio relay links; 87,700 telephones; stations–3 AM, 17 FM, 11 TV;
\n2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations; 2 coaxial submarine cables<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nBranches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary Gendarmerie<\/p>\n
Military manpower: males 15-49, 2,874,925; 1,487,909 fit for military
\nservice; 141,193 males reach military age (18) annually<\/p>\n
Defense expenditures: 1.9% of GDP (1987)
\n.pa
\nJamaica
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 10,990 km2; land area: 10,830 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly smaller than Connecticut<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: none<\/p>\n
Coastline: 1,022 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 12 nm<\/p>\n
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior<\/p>\n
Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain<\/p>\n
Natural resources: bauxite, gypsum, limestone<\/p>\n
Land use: 19% arable land; 6% permanent crops; 18% meadows and pastures;
\n28% forest and woodland; 29% other; includes 3% irrigated<\/p>\n
Environment: subject to hurricanes (especially July to November);
\ndeforestation; water pollution<\/p>\n
Note: strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica
\nChannel, the main sea lanes for Panama Canal<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 2,441,396 (July 1990), growth rate 0.6% (1990)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 21 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 5 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: – 10 migrants\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 16 deaths\/1,000 live births (1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 75 years male, 79 years female (1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 2.3 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: noun–Jamaican(s); adjective–Jamaican<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: 76.3% African, 15.1% Afro-European, 3.4% East Indian and
\nAfro-East Indian, 3.2% white, 1.2% Chinese and Afro-Chinese, 0.8% other<\/p>\n
Religion: predominantly Protestant (including Anglican and Baptist), some
\nRoman Catholic, some spiritualist cults<\/p>\n
Language: English, Creole<\/p>\n
Literacy: 74%<\/p>\n
Labor force: 728,700; 32% agriculture, 28% industry and commerce,
\n27% services, 13% government; shortage of technical and managerial personnel
\n(1984)<\/p>\n
Organized labor: 25% of labor force (1989)<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: none<\/p>\n
Type: parliamentary democracy<\/p>\n
Capital: Kingston<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: 14 parishes; Clarendon, Hanover, Kingston,
\nManchester, Portland, Saint Andrew, Saint Ann, Saint Catherine, Saint
\nElizabeth, Saint James, Saint Mary, Saint Thomas, Trelawny, Westmoreland<\/p>\n
Independence: 6 August 1962 (from UK)<\/p>\n
Constitution: 6 August 1962<\/p>\n
Legal system: based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
\njurisdiction<\/p>\n
National holiday: Independence Day (first Monday in August), 6 August 1990<\/p>\n
Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime minister,
\nCabinet<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house
\nor Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: Supreme Court<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nChief of State–Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented
\nby Governor General Sir Florizel A. GLASSPOLE (since 2 March 1973);<\/p>\n
Head of Government–Prime Minister Michael MANLEY (since 9 February 1989)<\/p>\n
Political parties and leaders: People’s National Party (PNP), Michael
\nManley; Jamaica Labor Party (JLP), Edward Seaga; Workers’ Party of Jamaica
\n(WPJ), Trevor Munroe<\/p>\n
Suffrage: universal at age 18<\/p>\n
Elections:
\nHouse of Representatives–last held 9 February 1989 (next to be held
\nby February 1994);
\nresults–PNP 57%, JLP 43%;
\nseats–(60 total) PNP 45, JLP 15<\/p>\n
Communists: Workers’ Party of Jamaica (Marxist-Leninist)<\/p>\n
Other political or pressure groups:
\nRastafarians (black religious\/racial cultists, pan-Africanists)<\/p>\n
Member of: ACP, CARICOM, CCC, Commonwealth, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA,
\nIBA, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDB–Inter-American Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
\nIMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS, PAHO, SELA, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU,
\nWHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Keith JOHNSON; Chancery at
\nSuite 355, 1850 K Street NW, Washington DC 20006; telephone (202) 452-0660;
\nthere are Jamaican Consulates General in Miami and New York;
\nUS–Ambassador Glen HOLDEN; Embassy at 3rd Floor, Jamaica Mutual Life
\nCenter, 2 Oxford Road, Kingston; telephone \u00d5809\u00e5 929-4850<\/p>\n
Flag: diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles–green
\n(top and bottom) and black (hoist side and fly side)<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: The economy is based on sugar, bauxite, and tourism.
\nIn 1985 it suffered a setback with the closure of some facilities in the
\nbauxite and alumina industry, a major source of hard currency earnings. Since
\n1986 an economic recovery has been under way. In 1987 conditions began to
\nimprove for the bauxite and alumina industry because of increases in world metal
\nprices. The recovery has also been supported by growth in the manufacturing and
\ntourism sectors. In September 1988, Hurricane Gilbert inflicted severe
\ndamage on crops and the electric power system, a sharp but temporary
\nsetback to the economy. By October 1989 the economic recovery from the
\nhurricane was largely complete and real growth was up about 3% for 1989.<\/p>\n
GDP: $3.8 billion, per capita $1,529; real growth rate 3.0% (1989
\nest.)<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15% (1989)<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: 18.7% (1988)<\/p>\n
Budget: revenues $1.1 billion; expenditures $1.5 billion, including
\ncapital expenditures of $NA (FY88 est.)<\/p>\n
Exports: $948 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);
\ncommodities–bauxite, alumina, sugar, bananas;
\npartners–US 40%, UK, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, Norway<\/p>\n
Imports: $1.6 billion (c.i.f., 1989 est.); commodities–petroleum,
\nmachinery, food, consumer goods, construction goods; partners–US 46%,
\nUK, Venezuela, Canada, Japan, Trinidad and Tobago<\/p>\n
External debt: $4.4 billion (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Industrial production: growth rate 3% (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Electricity: 1,437,000 kW capacity; 2,390 million kWh produced,
\n960 kWh per capita (1989)<\/p>\n
Industries: tourism, bauxite mining, textiles, food processing,
\nlight manufactures<\/p>\n
Agriculture: accounts for about 9% of GDP, one-third of work force, and
\n17% of exports; commercial crops–sugarcane, bananas, coffee, citrus, potatoes,
\nand vegetables; livestock and livestock products include poultry, goats, milk;
\nnot self-sufficient in grain, meat, and dairy products<\/p>\n
Illicit drugs: illicit cultivation of cannabis has decreased, with
\nproduction shifting from large to small plots and nurseries to evade
\naerial detection and eradication<\/p>\n
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $1.1 billion; Western
\n(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $1.2 billion;
\nOPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $27 million; Communist countries (1974-88),
\n$349 million<\/p>\n
Currency: Jamaican dollar (plural–dollars);
\n1 Jamaican dollar (J$) = 100 cents<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: Jamaican dollars (J$) per US$1–6.5013 (January 1990),
\n5.7446 (1989), 5.4886 (1988), 5.4867 (1987), 5.4778 (1986), 5.5586 (1985)<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March<\/p>\n
Communications
\nRailroads: 370 km, all 1.435-meter standard gauge, single track<\/p>\n
Highways: 18,200 km total; 12,600 km paved, 3,200 km gravel, 2,400 km
\nimproved earth<\/p>\n
Pipelines: refined products, 10 km<\/p>\n
Ports: Kingston, Montego Bay<\/p>\n
Merchant marine: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 13,048 GRT\/21,412
\nDWT; includes 1 cargo, 1 container, 1 roll-on\/roll-off cargo, 1 petroleum, oils,
\nand lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 bulk<\/p>\n
Civil air: 6 major transport aircraft<\/p>\n
Airports: 41 total, 25 usable; 14 with permanent-surface runways;
\nnone with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with
\nrunways 1,220-2,439 m<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: fully automatic domestic telephone network;
\n127,000 telephones; stations–10 AM, 17 FM, 8 TV; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
\nearth stations; 3 coaxial submarine cables<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nBranches: Jamaica Defense Force (includes Coast Guard and Air Wing)<\/p>\n
Military manpower: males 15-49, 620,400; 440,967 fit for military service;
\nno conscription; 27,014 reach minimum volunteer age (18) annually<\/p>\n
Defense expenditures: 1.1% of GDP (1987)
\n.pa
\nJan Mayen
\n(territory of Norway)
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 373 km2; land area: 373 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: none<\/p>\n
Coastline: 124.1 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Contiguous zone: 10 nm;<\/p>\n
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation;<\/p>\n
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 4 nm<\/p>\n
Disputes: Denmark has challenged Norway’s maritime claims beween
\nGreenland and Jan Mayen<\/p>\n
Climate: arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog<\/p>\n
Terrain: volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers; Beerenberg is the
\nhighest peak, with an elevation of 2,277 meters<\/p>\n
Natural resources: none<\/p>\n
Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and
\npastures; 0% forest and woodland; 100% other<\/p>\n
Environment: barren volcanic island with some moss and grass;
\nvolcanic activity resumed in 1970<\/p>\n
Note: located 590 km north-northwest of Iceland between
\nthe Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea north of the Arctic Circle<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: no permanent inhabitants<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: none<\/p>\n
Type: territory of Norway<\/p>\n
Note: administered by a governor (sysselmann) resident in Longyearbyen
\n(Svalbard)<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: Jan Mayen is a volcanic island with no exploitable
\nnatural resources. Economic activity is limited to providing services
\nfor employees of Norway’s radio and meteorological stations located on
\nthe island.<\/p>\n
Electricity: 15,000 kW capacity; 40 million kWh produced,
\nNA kWh per capita (1989)<\/p>\n
Communications
\nAirports: 1 with runway 1,220 to 2,439 m<\/p>\n
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: radio and meteorological station<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nNote: defense is the responsibility of Norway
\n.pa
\nJapan
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 377,835 km2; land area: 374,744 km2; includes Bonin Islands
\n(Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto, Minami-jima, Okinotori-shima,
\nRyukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), and Volcano Islands (Kazan-retto)<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly smaller than California<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: none<\/p>\n
Coastline: 29,751 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 12 nm (3 nm in international straits–La Perouse or
\nSoya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and Eastern and Western channels of the Korea or
\nTsushima Strait)<\/p>\n
Disputes: Habomai Islands, Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Shikotan Islands
\noccupied by Soviet Union since 1945, claimed by Japan; Kuril Islands
\nadministered by Soviet Union; Liancourt Rocks disputed with South Korea;
\nSenkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands) claimed by China and Taiwan<\/p>\n
Climate: varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north<\/p>\n
Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous<\/p>\n
Natural resources: negligible mineral resources, fish<\/p>\n
Land use: 13% arable land; 1% permanent crops; 1% meadows and pastures;
\n67% forest and woodland; 18% other; includes 9% irrigated<\/p>\n
Environment: many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic
\noccurrences (mostly tremors) every year; subject to tsunamis<\/p>\n
Note: strategic location in northeast Asia<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 123,642,461 (July 1990), growth rate 0.4% (1990)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 11 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 7 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: 0 migrants\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 5 deaths\/1,000 live births (1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 76 years male, 82 years female (1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: noun–Japanese (sing., pl.); adjective–Japanese<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: 99.4% Japanese, 0.6% other (mostly Korean)<\/p>\n
Religion: most Japanese observe both Shinto and Buddhist rites; about 16%
\nbelong to other faiths, including 0.8% Christian<\/p>\n
Language: Japanese<\/p>\n
Literacy: 99%<\/p>\n
Labor force: 63,330,000; 54% trade and services; 33% manufacturing,
\nmining, and construction; 7% agriculture, forestry, and fishing; 3% government
\n(1988)<\/p>\n
Organized labor: about 29% of employed workers; 76.4% public service,
\n57.9% transportation and telecommunications, 48.7% mining, 33.7% manufacturing,
\n18.2% services, 9.3% wholesale, retail, and restaurant<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: none<\/p>\n
Type: constitutional monarchy<\/p>\n
Capital: Tokyo<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: 47 prefectures (fuken, singular and plural);
\nAichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka, Fukushima, Gifu, Gumma,
\nHiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima,
\nKanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto, Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi, Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki,
\nNara, Niigata, Oita, Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saga, Saitama, Shiga,
\nShimane, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama,
\nYamagata, Yamaguchi, Yamanashi<\/p>\n
Independence: 660 BC, traditional founding by Emperor Jimmu;
\n3 May 1947, constitutional monarchy established<\/p>\n
Constitution: 3 May 1947<\/p>\n
Legal system: civil law system with English-American influence;
\njudicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory
\nICJ jurisdiction, with reservations<\/p>\n
National holiday: Birthday of the Emperor, 23 December (1933)<\/p>\n
Executive branch: emperor, prime minister, Cabinet<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: bicameral Diet (Kokkai) consists of an upper house or
\nHouse of Councillors (Sangi-in) and a lower house or House of Representatives
\n(Shugi-in)<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: Supreme Court<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nChief of State–Emperor AKIHITO (since 7 January 1989);<\/p>\n
Head of Government–Prime Minister Toshiki KAIFU (since 9 August 1989)<\/p>\n
Political parties and leaders: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP),
\nToshiki Kaifu, president; Japan Socialist Party (JSP), T. Doi, chairman;
\nDemocratic Socialist Party (DSP), Keigo Ouchi, chairman; Japan
\nCommunist Party (JCP), K. Miyamoto, Presidium chairman; Komeito (Clean
\nGovernment Party, CGP), Koshiro Ishida, chairman<\/p>\n
Suffrage: universal at age 20<\/p>\n
Elections:
\nHouse of Councillors–last held on 23 July 1989 (next to be held
\n23 July 1992); results–percent of vote by party NA;
\nseats–(252 total, 100 elected) LDP 109, JSP 67, CGP 21, JCP 14,
\nothers 33;<\/p>\n
House of Representatives–last held on 18 February 1990
\n(next to be held by February 1993);
\nresults–percent of vote by party NA;
\nseats–(512 total) LDP 275, JSP 136, CGP 45, JCP 16, JDSP 14,
\nother parties 5, independents 21; note–nine independents are expected
\nto join the LDP, five the JSP<\/p>\n
Communists: about 470,000 registered Communist party members<\/p>\n
Member of: ADB, ASPAC, CCC, Colombo Plan, DAC, ESCAP, FAO, GATT, IAEA,
\nIBRD, ICAC, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IDB–Inter-American Development Bank, IEA, IFAD,
\nIFC, IHO, ILO, ILZSG, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, IRC, ISO, ITC, ITU,
\nIWC–International Whaling Commission, IWC–International Wheat Council, OECD,
\nUN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WSG<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Nobuo MATSUNAGA; Chancery at
\n2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 939-6700;
\nthere are Japanese Consulates General in Agana (Guam), Anchorage, Atlanta,
\nBoston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Kansas City (Missouri), Los Angeles,
\nNew Orleans, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Portland (Oregon),
\nand a Consulate in Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands);
\nUS–Ambassador Michael H. ARMACOST; Embassy at 10-1, Akasaka 1-chome,
\nMinato-ku (107), Tokyo (mailing address is APO San Francisco 96503); telephone
\n\u00d581\u00e5 (3) 224-5000; there are US Consulates General in Naha, Osaka-Kobe, and
\nSapporo and a Consulate in Fukuoka<\/p>\n
Flag: white with a large red disk (representing the sun without rays)
\nin the center<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: Although Japan has few natural resources, since 1971 it has
\nbecome the world’s third-largest industrial economy, ranking behind only the US
\nand the USSR. Government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, and a
\ncomparatively small defense allocation have helped Japan advance rapidly,
\nnotably in high-technology fields. Industry, the most important sector of the
\neconomy, is heavily dependent on imported raw materials and fuels.
\nSelf-sufficent in rice, Japan must import 50% of its requirements for other
\ngrain and fodder crops. Japan maintains one of the world’s largest fishing
\nfleets and accounts for nearly 15% of the total global catch. Overall
\neconomic growth has been spectacular: a 10% average in the 1960s, a 5%
\naverage in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1989 strong investment and
\nconsumption spending helped maintain growth at nearly 5%. Inflation
\nremains low at 2.1% despite high oil prices and a somewhat weaker yen.
\nJapan continues to run a huge trade surplus, $60 billion in 1989, which
\nsupports extensive investment in foreign properties.<\/p>\n
GNP: $1,914.1 billion, per capita $15,600; real growth rate 4.8%
\n(1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.1% (1989)<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: 2.3% (1989)<\/p>\n
Budget: revenues $392 billion; expenditures $464 billion, including
\ncapital expenditures of $NA (FY89)<\/p>\n
Exports: $270 billion (f.o.b., 1989); commodities–manufactures
\n97% (including machinery 38%, motor vehicles 17%, consumer electronics
\n10%); partners–US 34%, Southeast Asia 22%, Western Europe 21%, Communist
\ncountries 5%, Middle East 5%<\/p>\n
Imports: $210 billion (c.i.f., 1989); commodities–manufactures
\n42%, fossil fuels 30%, foodstuffs 15%, nonfuel raw materials 13%;
\npartners–Southeast Asia 23%, US 23%, Middle East 15%, Western Europe 16%,
\nCommunist countries 7%<\/p>\n
External debt: $NA<\/p>\n
Industrial production: growth rate 9.0% (1989)<\/p>\n
Electricity: 191,000,000 kW capacity; 700,000 million kWh produced,
\n5,680 kWh per capita (1989)<\/p>\n
Industries: metallurgy, engineering, electrical and electronic, textiles,
\nchemicals, automobiles, fishing<\/p>\n
Agriculture: accounts for 3% of GNP; highly subsidized and protected
\nsector, with crop yields among highest in world; principal crops–rice, sugar
\nbeets, vegetables, fruit; animal products include pork, poultry, dairy and eggs;
\nabout 50% self-sufficient in food production; shortages of wheat, corn,
\nsoybeans; world’s largest fish catch of 11.8 million metric tons in 1987<\/p>\n
Aid: donor–ODA and OOF commitments (1970-87), $57.5 billion<\/p>\n
Currency: yen (plural–yen); 1 yen (Y) = 100 sen<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: yen (Y) per US$1–145.09 (January 1990), 137.96 (1989),
\n128.15 (1988), 144.64 (1987), 168.52 (1986), 238.54 (1985)<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March<\/p>\n
Communications
\nRailroads: 27,327 km total; 2,012 km 1.435-meter standard gauge
\nand 25,315 km predominantly 1.067-meter narrow gauge; 5,724 km doubletrack and
\nmultitrack sections, 9,038 km 1.067-meter narrow-gauge electrified, 2,012
\nkm 1.435-meter standard-gauge electrified (1987)<\/p>\n
Highways: 1,098,900 km total; 718,700 km paved, 380,200 km gravel,
\ncrushed stone, or unpaved; 3,900 km national expressways, 46,544 km national
\nhighways, 43,907 km principal local roads, 86,930 km prefectural roads,
\nand 917,619 other (1987)<\/p>\n
Inland waterways: about 1,770 km; seagoing craft ply all coastal inland
\nseas<\/p>\n
Pipelines: crude oil, 84 km; refined products, 322 km; natural gas,
\n1,800 km<\/p>\n
Ports: Chiba, Muroran, Kitakyushu, Kobe, Tomakomai, Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo,
\nYokkaichi, Yokohama, Kawasaki, Niigata, Fushiki-Toyama, Shimizu, Himeji,
\nWakayama-Shimozu, Shimonoseki, Tokuyama-Shimomatsu<\/p>\n
Merchant marine: 1,088 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 23,597,688
\nGRT\/36,655,266 DWT; includes 7 passenger, 57 short-sea passenger, 4 passenger
\ncargo, 108 cargo, 44 container, 27 roll-on\/roll-off cargo, 135 refrigerated
\ncargo, 117 vehicle carrier, 237 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker,
\n21 chemical tanker, 42 liquefied gas, 12 combination ore\/oil, 3 specialized
\ntanker, 272 bulk, 1 combination bulk, 1 multifunction large-load carrier<\/p>\n
Civil air: 341 major transport aircraft<\/p>\n
Airports: 165 total, 156 usable; 128 with permanent-surface runways;
\n2 with runways over 3,659 m; 27 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 55 with runways
\n1,220-2,439 m<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: excellent domestic and international service;
\n64,000,000 telephones; stations–318 AM, 58 FM, 12,350 TV (196 major–1 kw or
\ngreater); satellite earth stations–4 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean
\nINTELSAT; submarine cables to US (via Guam), Philippines, China, and USSR<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nBranches: Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (army), Japan Maritime
\nSelf-Defense Force (navy), Japan Air Self-Defense Force (air force), Maritime
\nSafety Agency (coast guard)<\/p>\n
Military manpower: males 15-49, 32,181,866; 27,695,890 fit for military
\nservice; 1,004,052 reach military age (18) annually<\/p>\n
Defense expenditures: 1.0% of GNP at market prices (1989 est.)
\n.pa
\nJarvis Island
\n(territory of the US)
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 4.5 km2; land area: 4.5 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: about 7.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: none<\/p>\n
Coastline: 8 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Contiguous zone: 12 nm;<\/p>\n
Continental shelf: 200 m;<\/p>\n
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 12 nm<\/p>\n
Climate: tropical; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun<\/p>\n
Terrain: sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef<\/p>\n
Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)<\/p>\n
Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures;
\n0% forest and woodland; 100% other<\/p>\n
Environment: sparse bunch grass, prostrate vines, and low-growing
\nshrubs; lacks fresh water; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging
\nhabitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife; feral cats<\/p>\n
Note: 2,090 km south of Honolulu in the South Pacific Ocean, just south
\nof the Equator, about halfway between Hawaii and the Cook Islands<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: uninhabited<\/p>\n
Note: Millersville settlement on western side of island occasionally used
\nas a weather station from 1935 until World War II, when it was abandoned;
\nreoccupied in 1957 during the International Geophysical Year by scientists who
\nleft in 1958; public entry is by special-use permit only and generally
\nrestricted to scientists and educators<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: none (territory of the US)<\/p>\n
Type: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Fish
\nand Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the
\nNational Wildlife Refuge System<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: no economic activity<\/p>\n
Communications
\nPorts: none; offshore anchorage only–one boat landing area in the
\nmiddle of the west coast and another near the southwest corner of the island<\/p>\n
Note: there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nNote: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually
\nby the US Coast Guard
\n.pa
\nJersey
\n(British crown dependency)
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 117 km2; land area: 117 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: none<\/p>\n
Coastline: 70 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation;<\/p>\n
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 3 nm<\/p>\n
Climate: temperate; mild winters and cool summers<\/p>\n
Terrain: gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast<\/p>\n
Natural resources: agricultural land<\/p>\n
Land use: NA% arable land; NA% permanent crops; NA% meadows and pastures;
\nNA% forest and woodland; NA% other; about 58% of land under cultivation<\/p>\n
Environment: about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier<\/p>\n
Note: largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; 27 km
\nfrom France<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 83,609 (July 1990), growth rate 0.9% (1990)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 12 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 10 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: 7 migrants\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths\/1,000 live births (1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 78 years female (1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 1.3 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: noun–Channel Islander(s); adjective–Channel Islander<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: UK and Norman-French descent<\/p>\n
Religion: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church,
\nMethodist, Presbyterian<\/p>\n
Language: English and French (official), with the Norman-French dialect
\nspoken in country districts<\/p>\n
Literacy: NA%, but probably high<\/p>\n
Labor force: NA<\/p>\n
Organized labor: none<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: Bailiwick of Jersey<\/p>\n
Type: British crown dependency<\/p>\n
Capital: Saint Helier<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: none (British crown dependency)<\/p>\n
Independence: none (British crown dependency)<\/p>\n
Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and
\npractice<\/p>\n
Legal system: English law and local statute<\/p>\n
National holiday: Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)<\/p>\n
Executive branch: British monarch, lieutenant governor, bailiff<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the States<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: Royal Court<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nChief of State–Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);<\/p>\n
Head of Government–Lieutenant Governor Adm. Sir William PILLAR
\n(since NA 1985); Bailiff Peter CRILL (since NA)<\/p>\n
Political parties and leaders: none; all independents<\/p>\n
Suffrage: universal adult at age NA<\/p>\n
Elections:
\nAssembly of the States–last held NA (next to be held NA);
\nresults–percent of vote NA;
\nseats–(56 total, 52 elected) 52 independents<\/p>\n
Communists: probably none<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: none (British crown dependency)<\/p>\n
Flag: white with the diagonal red cross of St. Patrick (patron saint
\nof Ireland) extending to the corners of the flag<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: The economy is based largely on financial services, agriculture,
\nand tourism. Potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes, and especially flowers are
\nimportant export crops, shipped mostly to the UK. The Jersey breed of dairy
\ncattle is known worldwide and represents an important export earner. Milk
\nproducts go to the UK and other EC countries. In 1986 the finance sector
\novertook tourism as the main contributor to GDP, accounting for 40% of the
\nisland’s output. In recent years the government has encouraged light industry
\nto locate in Jersey, with the result that an electronics industry has developed
\nalongside the traditional manufacturing of knitwear. All raw material
\nand energy requirements are imported, as well as a large share of Jersey’s food
\nneeds.<\/p>\n
GDP: $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate 8% (1987 est.)<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8% (1988 est.)<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: NA%<\/p>\n
Budget: revenues $308.0 million; expenditures $284.4 million, including
\ncapital expenditures of NA (1985)<\/p>\n
Exports: $NA; commodities–light industrial and electrical goods,
\nfoodstuffs, textiles; partners–UK<\/p>\n
Imports: $NA; commodities–machinery and transport equipment,
\nmanufactured goods, foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals; partners–UK<\/p>\n
External debt: $NA<\/p>\n
Industrial production: growth rate NA%<\/p>\n
Electricity: 50,000 kW standby capacity (1989); power supplied by France<\/p>\n
Industries: tourism, banking and finance, dairy<\/p>\n
Agriculture: potatoes, cauliflowers, tomatoes; dairy and cattle farming<\/p>\n
Aid: none<\/p>\n
Currency: Jersey pound (plural–pounds); 1 Jersey pound (LJ) = 100 pence<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: Jersey pounds (LJ) per US$1–0.6055 (January 1990),
\n0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987), 0.6817 (1986), 0.7714 (1985);
\nthe Jersey pound is at par with the British pound<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March<\/p>\n
Communications
\nPorts: Saint Helier, Gorey, St. Aubin<\/p>\n
Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runway 1,220-2,439 m (St. Peter)<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: 63,700 telephones; stations–1 AM, no FM, 1
\nTV; 3 submarine cables<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nNote: defense is the responsibility of the UK
\n.pa
\nJohnston Atoll
\n(territory of the US)
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 2.8 km2; land area: 2.8 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: about 4.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: none<\/p>\n
Coastline: 10 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Contiguous zone: 12 nm;<\/p>\n
Continental shelf: 200 m;<\/p>\n
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 12 nm<\/p>\n
Climate: tropical, but generally dry; consistent northeast trade winds
\nwith little seasonal temperature variation<\/p>\n
Terrain: mostly flat with a maximum elevation of 4 meters<\/p>\n
Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until about 1890)<\/p>\n
Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures;
\n0% forest and woodland; 100% other<\/p>\n
Environment: some low-growing vegetation<\/p>\n
Note: strategic location 1,328 km west-southwest of Honolulu in the North
\nPacific Ocean, about one-third of the way between Hawaii and the Marshall
\nIslands; Johnston Island and Sand Island are natural islands; North Island
\n(Akau) and East Island (Hikina) are manmade islands formed from coral
\ndredging; closed to the public; former nuclear weapons test site<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 1,203 (December 1989); all US government personnel and
\ncontractors<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: none (territory of the US)<\/p>\n
Type: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Defense
\nNuclear Agency (DNA) and managed cooperatively by DNA and the Fish and Wildlife
\nService of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife
\nRefuge system<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: none (territory of the US)<\/p>\n
Flag: the flag of the US is used<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: Economic activity is limited to providing services to
\nUS military personnel and contractors located on the island. All
\nfood and manufactured goods must be imported.<\/p>\n
Communications
\nPorts: Johnston Island<\/p>\n
Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runway 2,743 m<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: excellent system including 60-channel submarine
\ncable, Autodin\/SRT terminal, digital telephone switch, Military
\nAffiliated Radio System (MARS station), and a (receive only) commercial
\nsatellite television system<\/p>\n
Note: US Coast Guard operates a LORAN transmitting station<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nNote: defense is the responsibility of the US
\n.pa
\nJordan
\n(see separate West Bank entry)
\nNote: The war between Israel and the Arab states in June 1967 ended with
\nIsrael in control of the West Bank. As stated in the 1978 Camp David Accords
\nand reaffirmed by President Reagan’s 1 September 1982 peace initiative, the
\nfinal status of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, their relationship with their
\nneighbors, and a peace treaty between Israel and Jordan are to be negotiated
\namong the concerned parties. The Camp David Accords further specify that these
\nnegotiations will resolve the location of the respective boundaries. Pending the
\ncompletion of this process, it is US policy that the final status of the West
\nBank and Gaza Strip has yet to be determined.<\/p>\n
Geography
\nTotal area: 91,880 km2; land area: 91,540 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly smaller than Indiana<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: 1,586 km total; Iraq 134 km, Israel 238 km,
\nSaudi Arabia 742 km, Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km<\/p>\n
Coastline: 26 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 3 nm<\/p>\n
Disputes: differences with Israel over the location of the
\n1949 Armistice Line which separates the two countries<\/p>\n
Climate: mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)<\/p>\n
Terrain: mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west;
\nGreat Rift Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River<\/p>\n
Natural resources: phosphates, potash, shale oil<\/p>\n
Land use: 4% arable land; 0.5% permanent crops; 1% meadows
\nand pastures; 0.5% forest and woodland; 94% other; includes 0.5% irrigated<\/p>\n
Environment: lack of natural water resources; deforestation;
\novergrazing; soil erosion; desertification<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 3,064,508 (July 1990), growth rate 3.6% (1990)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 42 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 5 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: 0 migrants\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 55 deaths\/1,000 live births (1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 68 years male, 71 years female (1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 6.2 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: noun–Jordanian(s); adjective–Jordanian<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: 98% Arab, 1% Circassian, 1% Armenian<\/p>\n
Religion: 92% Sunni Muslim, 8% Christian<\/p>\n
Language: Arabic (official); English widely understood among upper and
\nmiddle classes<\/p>\n
Literacy: 71% (est.)<\/p>\n
Labor force: 572,000 (1988); 20% agriculture, 20%
\nmanufacturing and mining (1987 est.)<\/p>\n
Organized labor: about 10% of labor force<\/p>\n
Note: 1.5-1.7 million Palestinians live on the East Bank (55-60%
\nof the population), most are Jordanian citizens<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan<\/p>\n
Type: constitutional monarchy<\/p>\n
Capital: Amman<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: 8 governorates (muhafazat,
\nsingular–muhafazah); Al Balqa, Al Karak, Al Mafraq, Amman,
\nAt Tafilah, Az Zarqa, Irbid, Maan<\/p>\n
Independence: 25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British
\nadministration; formerly Trans-Jordan)<\/p>\n
Constitution: 8 January 1952<\/p>\n
Legal system: based on Islamic law and French codes; judicial review
\nof legislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal; has not accepted
\ncompulsory ICJ jurisdiction<\/p>\n
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 May (1946)<\/p>\n
Executive branch: monarch, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly (Majlis al Umma)
\nconsists of an upper house or House of Notables (Majlis al-Ayaan) and a
\nlower house or House of Representatives (Majlis al-Nuwwab); note–the House
\nof Representatives was dissolved by King Hussein on 30 July 1988 as part of
\nJordanian disengagement from the West Bank and in November 1989 the
\nfirst parliamentary elections in 22 years were held, with no seats going
\nto Palestinians on the West Bank<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: Court of Cassation<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nChief of State–King HUSSEIN Ibn Talal I (since 11 August 1952);<\/p>\n
Head of Government–Prime Minister Mudar BADRAN (since 4 December
\n1989)<\/p>\n
Political parties and leaders: none; after 1989 parliamentary
\nelections, King Hussein promised to allow the formation of political
\nparties<\/p>\n
Suffrage: universal at age 20<\/p>\n
Elections:
\nHouse of Representatives–last held 8 November 1989 (next to be
\nheld NA); results–percent of vote NA;
\nseats–(80 total) percent of vote NA<\/p>\n
Communists: party actively repressed, membership less than 500 (est.)<\/p>\n
Member of: ACC, Arab League, CCC, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
\nIDB–Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
\nINTERPOL, IPU, ITU, NAM, OIC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Hussein A. HAMMAMI;
\nChancery at 3504 International Drive NW, Washington DC 20008;
\ntelephone (202) 966-2664;
\nUS–Ambassador Roscoe S. SUDDARTH; Embassy on Jebel Amman, Amman (mailing
\naddress is P. O. Box 354, Amman, or APO New York 09892);
\ntelephone \u00d5962\u00e5 (6) 644371 through 644376<\/p>\n
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), white, and green with a
\nred isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a small white
\nseven-pointed star; the seven points on the star represent the seven fundamental
\nlaws of the Koran<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: Jordan was a secondary beneficiary of the oil boom of
\nthe late 1970s and early 1980s, when its GNP growth averaged 10-12%. Recent
\nyears, however, have witnessed a sharp reduction in cash aid from Arab
\noil-producing countries and in worker remittances, with growth averaging
\n1-2%. Imports–mainly oil, capital goods, consumer durables, and
\nfoodstuffs–have been outstripping exports by roughly $2 billion annually,
\nthe difference being made up by aid, remittances, and borrowing. In 1989
\nthe government pursued policies to encourage private investment, curb
\nimports of luxury goods, promote exports, reduce the budget deficit, and, in
\ngeneral, reinvigorate economic growth. Success will depend largely on
\nexogenous forces, such as the absence of drought and a pickup in outside
\nsupport. Down the road, the completion of the proposed Unity Dam on the
\nYarmuk is vital to meet rapidly growing requirements for water.<\/p>\n
GNP: $5.2 billion, per capita $1,760; real growth rate 0% (1989)<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 35% (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: 9-10% (December 1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Budget: revenues $0.92 billion; expenditures $1.6 billion, including
\ncapital expenditures of $540 million (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Exports: $0.910 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.); commodities–fruits and
\nvegetables, phosphates, fertilizers;
\npartners–Iraq, Saudi Arabia, India, Kuwait, Japan, China,
\nYugoslavia, Indonesia<\/p>\n
Imports: $1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1989 est.); commodities–crude oil,
\ntextiles, capital goods, motor vehicles, foodstuffs;
\npartners–EC, US, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Turkey, Romania, China,
\nTaiwan<\/p>\n
External debt: $8.3 billion (December 1989)<\/p>\n
Industrial production: growth rate – 7.8% (1988 est.)<\/p>\n
Electricity: 981,000 kW capacity; 3,500 million kWh produced,
\n1,180 kWh per capita (1989)<\/p>\n
Industries: phosphate mining, petroleum refining, cement, potash,
\nlight manufacturing<\/p>\n
Agriculture: accounts for only 5% of GDP; principal products are wheat,
\nbarley, citrus fruit, tomatoes, melons, olives; livestock–sheep, goats,
\npoultry; large net importer of food<\/p>\n
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $1.7 billion; Western
\n(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $1.2 billion;
\nOPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $9.5 billion; Communist countries (1970-88),
\n$44 million<\/p>\n
Currency: Jordanian dinar (plural–dinars);
\n1 Jordanian dinar (JD) = 1,000 fils<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: Jordanian dinars (JD) per US$1–0.6557 (January 1990),
\n0.5704 (1989), 0.3715 (1988), 0.3387 (1987), 0.3499 (1986), 0.3940 (1985)<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: calendar year<\/p>\n
Communications
\nRailroads: 619 km 1.050-meter gauge, single track<\/p>\n
Highways: 7,500 km; 5,500 km asphalt, 2,000 km gravel and crushed stone<\/p>\n
Pipelines: crude oil, 209 km<\/p>\n
Ports: Al Aqabah<\/p>\n
Merchant marine: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 32,635 GRT\/44,618
\nDWT; includes 1 short-sea passenger, 2 bulk cargo<\/p>\n
Civil air: 19 major transport aircraft<\/p>\n
Airports: 19 total, 16 usable; 14 with permanent-surface runways;
\n1 with runways over 3,659 m; 13 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
\nnone with runways 1,220-2,439 m<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: adequate system of radio relay, cable, and radio;
\n81,500 telephones; stations–4 AM, 3 FM, 24 TV; satellite earth stations–1
\nAtlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT, 1 domestic TV
\nreceive-only; coaxial cable and radio relay to Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Syria;
\nradio relay to Lebanon is inactive; a microwave network linking Syria, Egypt,
\nLibya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and Jordan<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nBranches: Jordan Arab Army, Royal Jordanian Air Force, Royal Jordanian
\nCoast Guard<\/p>\n
Military manpower: males 15-49, 726,736; 519,972 fit for military service;
\n38,730 reach military age (18) annually<\/p>\n
Defense expenditures: 11% of GNP, or $570 million (1990 est.)
\n.pa
\nJuan de Nova Island
\n(French possession)
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 4.4 km2; land area: 4.4 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: about 7.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: none<\/p>\n
Coastline: 24.1 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Contiguous zone: 12 nm;<\/p>\n
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation;<\/p>\n
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 12 nm<\/p>\n
Disputes: claimed by Madagascar<\/p>\n
Climate: tropical<\/p>\n
Terrain: undetermined<\/p>\n
Natural resources: guano deposits and other fertilizers<\/p>\n
Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and
\npastures; 90% forest and woodland; 10% other<\/p>\n
Environment: subject to periodic cyclones; wildlife sanctuary<\/p>\n
Note: located in the central Mozambique Channel about halfway
\nbetween Africa and Madagascar<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: uninhabited<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: none<\/p>\n
Type: French possession administered by Commissioner of the Republic
\nDaniel CONSTANTIN, resident in Reunion<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: no economic activity<\/p>\n
Communications
\nRailroads: short line going to a jetty<\/p>\n
Airports: 1 with nonpermanent-surface runway less than 1,220 m<\/p>\n
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only<\/p>\n
Note: one weather station<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nNote: defense is the responsibility of France
\n.pa
\nKenya
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 582,650 km2; land area: 569,250 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Nevada<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: 3,477 km total; Ethiopia 861 km, Somalia 682 km,
\nSudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km<\/p>\n
Coastline: 536 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 12 nm<\/p>\n
Disputes: international boundary and Administrative Boundary with Sudan;
\npossible claim by Somalia based on unification of ethnic Somalis<\/p>\n
Climate: varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior<\/p>\n
Terrain: low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift
\nValley; fertile plateau in west<\/p>\n
Natural resources: gold, limestone, diotomite, salt barytes, magnesite,
\nfeldspar, sapphires, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife<\/p>\n
Land use: 3% arable land; 1% permanent crops; 7% meadows and pastures;
\n4% forest and woodland; 85% other; includes NEGL% irrigated<\/p>\n
Environment: unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife
\nof scientific and economic value; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification;
\nglaciers on Mt. Kenya<\/p>\n
Note: Kenyan Highlands one of the most successful agricultural
\nproduction regions in Africa<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 24,639,261 (July 1990), growth rate 3.8% (1990)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 45 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 7 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: 0 migrants\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 60 deaths\/1,000 live births (1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 62 years male, 67 years female (1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 6.5 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: noun–Kenyan(s); adjective–Kenyan<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: 21% Kikuyu, 14% Luhya, 13% Luo, 11% Kalenjin, 11% Kamba,
\n6% Kisii, 6% Meru, 1% Asian, European, and Arab<\/p>\n
Religion: 38% Protestant, 28% Roman Catholic, 26% indigenous beliefs,
\n6% Muslim<\/p>\n
Language: English and Swahili (official); numerous indigenous languages<\/p>\n
Literacy: 59.2%<\/p>\n
Labor force: 9,003,000; 78% agriculture, 22% nonagriculture
\n(1987 est.)<\/p>\n
Organized labor: 390,000 (est.)<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: Republic of Kenya<\/p>\n
Type: republic<\/p>\n
Capital: Nairobi<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: 7 provinces and 1 area*; Central, Coast,
\nEastern, Nairobi Area*, North-Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western<\/p>\n
Independence: 12 December 1963 (from UK; formerly British East Africa)<\/p>\n
Constitution: 12 December 1963, amended as a republic 1964;
\nreissued with amendments 1979, 1983, 1986, and 1988<\/p>\n
Legal system: based on English common law, tribal law, and Islamic law;
\njudicial review in High Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
\nreservations; constitutional amendment in 1982 made Kenya a de jure one-party
\nstate<\/p>\n
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 December (1963)<\/p>\n
Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, High Court<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nChief of State and Head of Government–President Daniel Teroitich
\narap MOI (since 14 October 1978); Vice President George SAITOTI
\n(since 10 May 1989)<\/p>\n
Political parties and leaders: only party–Kenya African National
\nUnion (KANU), Daniel T. arap Moi, president<\/p>\n
Suffrage: universal at age 18<\/p>\n
Elections:
\nPresident–last held on 21 March 1988 (next to be held
\nFebruary 1993);
\nresults–President Daniel T. arap Moi was reelected;<\/p>\n
National Assembly–last held on 21 March 1988
\n(next to be held March 1993); results–KANU is the only party;
\nseats–(202 total, 188 elected) KANU 200<\/p>\n
Communists: may be a few Communists and sympathizers<\/p>\n
Other political or pressure groups: labor unions; exile
\nopposition–Mwakenya and other groups<\/p>\n
Member of: ACP, AfDB, CCC, Commonwealth, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD,
\nICAO, ICO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IRC, ISO, ITU,
\nIWC–International Wheat Council, NAM, OAU, UN, UNDP, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO,
\nWMO, WTO<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Denis Daudi AFANDE; Chancery at
\n2249 R Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 387-6101; there are
\nKenyan Consulates General in Los Angeles and New York;
\nUS–Ambassador Smith HEMPSTONE; Embassy at the corner of Moi Avenue
\nand Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi (mailing address is P. O. Box 30137,
\nNairobi or APO New York 09675); telephone \u00d5254\u00e5 (2) 334141; there is a
\nUS Consulate in Mombasa<\/p>\n
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red
\nband is edged in white; a large warrior’s shield covering crossed spears is
\nsuperimposed at the center<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: A serious underlying economic problem is Kenya’s 3.8% annual
\npopulation growth rate–one of the highest in the world. In the
\nmeantime, GDP growth in the near term has kept slightly ahead of
\npopulation–annually averaging 5.2% in the 1986-88 period. Undependable
\nweather conditions and a shortage of arable land hamper long-term
\ngrowth in agriculture, the leading economic sector.<\/p>\n
GDP: $8.5 billion, per capita $360; real growth rate 4.9% (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.3% (1988)<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: NA%, but there is a high level of unemployment
\nand underemployment<\/p>\n
Budget: revenues $2.3 billion; expenditures $2.6 billion, including
\ncapital expenditures of $0.71 billion (FY87)<\/p>\n
Exports: $1.0 billion (f.o.b., 1988); commodities–coffee 20%,
\ntea 18%, manufactures 15%, petroleum products 10% (1987);
\npartners–Western Europe 45%, Africa 22%, Far East 10%, US 4%, Middle East
\n3% (1987)<\/p>\n
Imports: $1.8 billion (f.o.b., 1988); commodities–machinery
\nand transportation equipment 36%, raw materials 33%, fuels and lubricants 20%,
\nfood and consumer goods 11% (1987);
\npartners–Western Europe 49%, Far East 20%, Middle East 19%, US 7% (1987)<\/p>\n
External debt: $6.2 billion (December 1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Industrial production: growth rate 4.8% (1987 est.)<\/p>\n
Electricity: 587,000 kW capacity; 2,250 million kWh produced,
\n90 kWh per capita (1989)<\/p>\n
Industries: small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries,
\ntextiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural processing, oil refining,
\ncement, tourism<\/p>\n
Agriculture: most important sector, accounting for 30% of GDP,
\nabout 80% of the work force, and over 50% of exports; cash
\ncrops–coffee, tea, sisal, pineapple; food products–corn, wheat,
\nsugarcane, fruit, vegetables, dairy products; food output not keeping
\npace with population growth<\/p>\n
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis used mostly for
\ndomestic consumption; widespread cultivation of cannabis and qat on
\nsmall plots; transit country for heroin and methaqualone en route
\nfrom Southwest Asia to West Africa, Western Europe, and the US<\/p>\n
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $771 million; Western
\n(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $6.0 billion;
\nOPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $74 million; Communist countries (1970-88),
\n$83 million<\/p>\n
Currency: Kenyan shilling (plural–shillings);
\n1 Kenyan shilling (KSh) = 100 cents<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: Kenyan shillings (KSh) per US$1–21.749 (December 1989),
\n20.572 (1989), 17.747 (1988), 16.454 (1987), 16.226 (1986), 16.432 (1985)<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June<\/p>\n
Communications
\nRailroads: 2,040 km 1.000-meter gauge<\/p>\n
Highways: 64,590 km total; 7,000 km paved, 4,150 km gravel, remainder
\nimproved earth<\/p>\n
Inland waterways: part of Lake Victoria system is within boundaries of
\nKenya; principal inland port is at Kisumu<\/p>\n
Pipelines: refined products, 483 km<\/p>\n
Ports: Mombasa, Lamu<\/p>\n
Civil air: 14 major transport aircraft<\/p>\n
Airports: 247 total, 211 usable; 18 with permanent-surface runways; 2
\nwith runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 45 with runways
\n1,220-2,439 m<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: in top group of African systems; consists of radio
\nrelay links, open-wire lines, and radiocommunication stations;
\n260,000 telephones; stations–11 AM, 4 FM, 4 TV; satellite earth stations–1
\nAtlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTLESAT<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nBranches: Kenya Army, Kenya Navy, Air Force; paramilitary General
\nService Unit<\/p>\n
Military manpower: males 15-49, 5,240,551; 3,235,557 fit for military
\nservice; no conscription<\/p>\n
Defense expenditures: 1.0% of GDP, or $100 million (1989 est.)
\n.pa
\nKingman Reef
\n(territory of the US)
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 1 km2; land area: 1 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: none<\/p>\n
Coastline: 3 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Contiguous zone: 12 nm;<\/p>\n
Continental shelf: 200 m;<\/p>\n
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 12 nm<\/p>\n
Climate: tropical, but moderated by prevailing winds<\/p>\n
Terrain: low and nearly level with a maximum elevation of about 1 meter<\/p>\n
Natural resources: none<\/p>\n
Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures;
\n0% forest and woodland; 100% other<\/p>\n
Environment: barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; wet or awash
\nmost of the time<\/p>\n
Note: located 1,600 km south-southwest of Honolulu in the North Pacific
\nOcean, about halfway between Hawaii and American Samoa; maximum elevation of
\nabout 1 meter makes this a navigational hazard; closed to the public<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: uninhabited<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: none<\/p>\n
Type: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Navy<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: no economic activity<\/p>\n
Communications
\nAirports: lagoon was used as a halfway station between Hawaii and
\nAmerican Samoa by Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937 and 1938<\/p>\n
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nNote: defense is the responsibility of the US
\n.pa
\nKiribati
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 717 km2; land area: 717 km2; includes three island
\ngroups–Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: none<\/p>\n
Coastline: 1,143 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 12 nm<\/p>\n
Climate: tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds<\/p>\n
Terrain: mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs<\/p>\n
Natural resources: phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)<\/p>\n
Land use: NEGL% arable land; 51% permanent crops; 0% meadows and
\npastures; 3% forest and woodland; 46% other<\/p>\n
Environment: typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to March;
\n20 of the 33 islands are inhabited<\/p>\n
Note: Banaba or Ocean Island is one of the three great phosphate rock
\nislands in the Pacific (the others are Makatea in French Polynesia and Nauru)<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 70,012 (July 1990), growth rate 1.7% (1990)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 34 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 13 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: – 5 migrants\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 65 deaths\/1,000 live births (1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 52 years male, 57 years female (1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 4.3 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: noun–Kiribatian(s); adjective–Kiribati<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: Micronesian<\/p>\n
Religion: 48% Roman Catholic, 45% Protestant (Congregational),
\nsome Seventh-Day Adventist and Baha’i<\/p>\n
Language: English (official), Gilbertese<\/p>\n
Literacy: 90%<\/p>\n
Labor force: 7,870 economically active (1985 est.)<\/p>\n
Organized labor: Kiribati Trades Union Congress–2,500 members<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: Republic of Kiribati<\/p>\n
Type: republic<\/p>\n
Capital: Tarawa<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: 3 units; Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix
\nIslands; note–a new administrative structure of 6 districts (Banaba, Central
\nGilberts, Line Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, Tarawa) may have
\nbeen changed to 20 island councils (one for each of the inhabited islands) named
\nAbaiang, Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Kiritimati, Kuria,
\nMaiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa, Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana,
\nTarawa, Teraina<\/p>\n
Independence: 12 July 1979 (from UK; formerly Gilbert Islands)<\/p>\n
Constitution: 12 July 1979<\/p>\n
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 July (1979)<\/p>\n
Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (Maneaba Ni Maungatabu)<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, High Court<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nChief of State and Head of Government–President Ieremia T. TABAI
\n(since 12 July 1979); Vice President Teatao TEANNAKI (since 20 July 1979)<\/p>\n
Political parties and leaders: Gilbertese National Party; Christian
\nDemocratic Party, Teburoro Tito, secretary; essentially not organized
\non basis of political parties<\/p>\n
Suffrage: universal at age 18<\/p>\n
Elections:
\nPresident–last held on 12 May 1987 (next to be held May 1991);
\nresults–Ieremia T. Tabai 50.1%, Tebruroro Tito 42.7%, Tetao
\nTannaki 7.2%;<\/p>\n
National Assembly–last held on 19 March l987 (next to be held
\nMarch 1991); results–percent of vote by party NA;
\nseats–(40 total; 39 elected) percent of seats by party NA<\/p>\n
Member of: ACP, ADB, Commonwealth, ESCAP (associate member), GATT (de
\nfacto), ICAO, IMF, SPF, WHO<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador (vacant) lives in Tarawa (Kiribati);
\nUS–none<\/p>\n
Flag: the upper half is red with a yellow frigate bird flying over a
\nyellow rising sun and the lower half is blue with three horizontal wavy white
\nstripes to represent the ocean<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: The country has few national resources. Phosphate deposits were
\nexhausted at the time of independence in 1979. Copra and fish now represent
\nthe bulk of production and exports. The economy has fluctuated widely in
\nrecent years. Real GDP declined about 8% in 1987, as the fish catch fell
\nsharply to only one-fourth the level of 1986 and copra production was hampered
\nby repeated rains. Output rebounded strongly in 1988, with real GDP growing
\nby 17%. The upturn in economic growth came from an increase in copra production
\nand a good fish catch. Following the strong surge in output in 1988, GDP
\nremained about the same in 1989.<\/p>\n
GDP: $34 million, per capita $500; real growth rate 0% (1989)<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.1% (1988)<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: 2% (1985); considerable underemployment<\/p>\n
Budget: revenues $22.0 million; expenditures $12.7 million, including
\ncapital expenditures of $9.7 million (1988)<\/p>\n
Exports: $5.1 million (f.o.b., 1988); commodities–fish 55%,
\ncopra 42%; partners–EC 20%, Marshall Islands 12%, US 8%, American
\nSamoa 4% (1985)<\/p>\n
Imports: $21.5 million (c.i.f., 1988); commodities–foodstuffs,
\nfuel, transportation equipment; partners–Australia 39%, Japan 21%,
\nNZ 6%, UK 6%, US 3% (1985)<\/p>\n
External debt: $2.0 million (December 1987 est.)<\/p>\n
Industrial production: growth rate NA%<\/p>\n
Electricity: 5,000 kW capacity; 13 million kWh produced,
\n190 kWh per capita (1989)<\/p>\n
Industries: fishing, handicrafts<\/p>\n
Agriculture: accounts for 30% of GDP (including fishing); copra and fish
\ncontribute 95% to exports; subsistence farming predominates; food crops–taro,
\nbreadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables; not self-sufficient in food<\/p>\n
Aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
\n(1970-87), $245 million<\/p>\n
Currency: Australian dollar (plural–dollars);
\n1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1–1.2784 (January 1990),
\n1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988), 1.4267 (1987), 1.4905 (1986), 1.4269 (1985)<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: NA<\/p>\n
Communications
\nHighways: 640 km of motorable roads<\/p>\n
Inland waterways: small network of canals, totaling 5 km, in Line Islands<\/p>\n
Ports: Banaba and Betio (Tarawa)<\/p>\n
Civil air: 2 Trislanders; no major transport aircraft<\/p>\n
Airports: 22 total; 21 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways;
\nnone with runways over 2,439 m; 5 with runways 1,220-2,439 m<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: 1,400 telephones; stations–1 AM, no FM, no TV;
\n1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nBranches: NA<\/p>\n
Military manpower: NA<\/p>\n
Defense expenditures: NA
\n.pa
\nKorea, North
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 120,540 km2; land area: 120,410 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly smaller than Mississippi<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: 1,671 km total; China 1,416 km, South Korea 238 km,
\nUSSR 17 km<\/p>\n
Coastline: 2,495 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 12 nm;<\/p>\n
Military boundary line: 50 nm (all foreign vessels and aircraft
\nwithout permission are banned)<\/p>\n
Disputes: short section of boundary with China is indefinite;
\nDemarcation Line with South Korea<\/p>\n
Climate: temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer<\/p>\n
Terrain: mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys;
\ncoastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east<\/p>\n
Natural resources: coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite,
\niron ore, copper, gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar, hydropower<\/p>\n
Land use: 18% arable land; 1% permanent crops; NEGL% meadows and
\npastures; 74% forest and woodland; 7% other; includes 9% irrigated<\/p>\n
Environment: mountainous interior is isolated, nearly inaccessible,
\nand sparsely populated; late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding<\/p>\n
Note: strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and USSR<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 21,292,649 (July 1990), growth rate 1.7% (1990)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 22 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 5 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: 0 migrants\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 27 deaths\/1,000 live births (1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 69 years male, 75 years female (1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 2.1 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: noun–Korean(s); adjective–Korean<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: racially homogeneous<\/p>\n
Religion: Buddhism and Confucianism; religious activities now almost
\nnonexistent<\/p>\n
Language: Korean<\/p>\n
Literacy: 95% (est.)<\/p>\n
Labor force: 9,615,000; 36% agricultural, 64% nonagricultural; shortage
\nof skilled and unskilled labor (mid-1987 est.)<\/p>\n
Organized labor: 1,600,000 members; single-trade union system coordinated
\nby the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea under the Central Committee<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea; abbreviated DPRK<\/p>\n
Type: Communist state; one-man rule<\/p>\n
Capital: P’yongyang<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and
\n3 special cities* (jikhalsi, singular and plural); Chagang-do,
\nHamgyong-namdo, Hamgyong-bukto, Hwanghae-namdo, Hwanghae-bukto,
\nKaesong-si*, Kangwon-do, Namp’o-si*, P’yongan-bukto,
\nP’yongan-namdo, P’yongyang-si*, Yanggang-do<\/p>\n
Independence: 9 September 1948<\/p>\n
Constitution: adopted 1948, revised 27 December 1972<\/p>\n
Legal system: based on German civil law system with Japanese influences
\nand Communist legal theory; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not
\naccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction<\/p>\n
National holiday: Independence Day, 9 September (1948)<\/p>\n
Executive branch: president, two vice presidents, premier, nine vice
\npremiers, State Administration Council (cabinet)<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme People’s Assembly (Choe Ko In
\nMin Hoe Ui)<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: Central Court<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nChief of State–President KIM Il-song (since 28 December 1972);
\nDesignated Successor KIM Chong-Il (son of President, born 16 February 1942);<\/p>\n
Head of Government–Premier YON Hyong-muk (since NA December 1988)<\/p>\n
Political parties and leaders: only party–Korean Workers’ Party
\n(KWP); Kim Il-song, General Secretary, and his son, Kim Chong-Il,
\nSecretary, Central Committee<\/p>\n
Suffrage: universal at age 17<\/p>\n
Elections:
\nPresident–last held 29 December 1986 (next to be held December
\n1990);
\nresults–President Kim Il Song was reelected without opposition;<\/p>\n
Supreme People’s Assembly–last held on 2 November 1986 (next
\nto be held November 1990, but the constitutional provision for elections
\nevery four years is not always followed);
\nresults–KWP is the only party;
\nseats–(655 total) KWP 655; the KWP approves a single list of candidates
\nwho are elected without opposition<\/p>\n
Communists: KWP claims membership of about 2 million, or about one-tenth
\nof population<\/p>\n
Member of: ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, IMO, IPU, ITU, NAM,
\nUNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WTO, UNIDO, WMO; official
\nobserver status at UN<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: none<\/p>\n
Flag: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue;
\nthe red band is edged in white; on the hoist side of the red band is a white
\ndisk with a red five-pointed star<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: More than 90% of this command economy is socialized;
\nagricultural land is collectivized; and state-owned industry produces 95% of
\nmanufactured goods. State control of economic affairs is unusually tight
\neven for a Communist country because of the small size and homogeneity of
\nthe society and the strict one-man rule of Kim. Economic growth during
\nthe period 1984-89 has averaged approximately 3%. Abundant natural resources
\nand hydropower form the basis of industrial development. Output of the
\nextractive industries includes coal, iron ore, magnesite, graphite, copper,
\nzinc, lead, and precious metals. Manufacturing emphasis is centered on heavy
\nindustry, with light industry lagging far behind. The use of high-yielding
\nseed varieties, expansion of irrigation, and the heavy use of fertilizers
\nhave enabled North Korea to become largely self-sufficient in food production.
\nNorth Korea, however, is far behind South Korea in economic development and
\nliving standards.<\/p>\n
GNP: $28 billion, per capita $1,240; real growth rate 3% (1989)<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: officially none<\/p>\n
Budget: revenues $15.6 billion; expenditures $15.6 billion, including
\ncapital expenditures of $NA (1989)<\/p>\n
Exports: $2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1988); commodities–minerals,
\nmetallurgical products, agricultural products, manufactures;
\npartners–USSR, China, Japan, FRG, Hong Kong, Singapore<\/p>\n
Imports: $3.1 billion (f.o.b., 1988); commodities–petroleum,
\nmachinery and equipment, coking coal, grain;
\npartners–USSR, Japan, China, FRG, Hong Kong, Singapore<\/p>\n
External debt: $2.5 billion hard currency (1989)<\/p>\n
Industrial production: growth rate NA%<\/p>\n
Electricity: 6,440,000 kW capacity; 40,250 million kWh produced,
\n1,740 kWh per capita (1989)<\/p>\n
Industries: machine building, military products, electric power,
\nchemicals, mining, metallurgy, textiles, food processing<\/p>\n
Agriculture: accounts for about 25% of GNP and 36% of work force;
\nprincipal crops–rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses; livestock and livestock
\nproducts–cattle, hogs, pork, eggs; not self-sufficient in grain; fish catch
\nestimated at 1.7 million metric tons in 1987<\/p>\n
Aid: Communist countries (1970-88), $1.3 billion<\/p>\n
Currency: North Korean won (plural–won);
\n1 North Korean won (Wn) = 100 chon<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: North Korean won (Wn) per US$1–2.3 (December 1989),
\n2.13 (December 1988), 0.94 (March 1987), NA (1986), NA (1985)<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: calendar year<\/p>\n
Communications
\nRailroads: 4,535 km total operating in 1980; 3,870 km 1.435-meter standard
\ngauge, 665 km 0.762-meter narrow gauge, 159 km double track; 3,175 km
\nelectrified; government owned<\/p>\n
Highways: about 20,280 km (1980); 98.5% gravel, crushed stone, or earth
\nsurface; 1.5% concrete or bituminous<\/p>\n
Inland waterways: 2,253 km; mostly navigable by small craft only<\/p>\n
Pipelines: crude oil, 37 km<\/p>\n
Ports: Ch’ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam, Namp’o, Wonsan, Songnim, Najin<\/p>\n
Merchant marine: 65 ships (1,000 GRT and over) totaling 437,103
\nGRT\/663,835 DWT; includes 1 passenger, 1 short-sea passenger, 1 passenger-cargo,
\n56 cargo, 2 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 3 bulk, 1 combination
\nbulk<\/p>\n
Airports: 50 total, 50 usable; about 30 with permanent-surface
\nrunways; fewer than 5 with runways over 3,659 m; 20 with runways
\n2,440-3,659 m; 30 with runways 1,220-2,439 m<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: stations–18 AM, no FM, 11 TV; 200,000 TV sets;
\n3,500,000 radio receivers; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nBranches: Ministry of People’s Armed Forces (consists of the army, navy,
\nand air force)<\/p>\n
Military manpower: males 15-49, 6,054,774; 3,699,088 fit for military
\nservice; 223,087 reach military age (18) annually<\/p>\n
Defense expenditures: 22% of GNP (1987)
\n.pa
\nKorea, South
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 98,480 km2; land area: 98,190 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly larger than Indiana<\/p>\n
Land boundary: 238 km with North Korea<\/p>\n
Coastline: 2,413 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 12 nm (3 nm in the Korea Strait)<\/p>\n
Disputes: Demarcation Line with North Korea; Liancourt Rocks claimed
\nby Japan<\/p>\n
Climate: temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter<\/p>\n
Terrain: mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west
\nand south<\/p>\n
Natural resources: coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead,
\nhydropower<\/p>\n
Land use: 21% arable land; 1% permanent crops; 1% meadows and pastures;
\n67% forest and woodland; 10% other; includes 12% irrigated<\/p>\n
Environment: occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; earthquakes
\nin southwest; air pollution in large cities<\/p>\n
Notes: strategic location along the Korea Strait, Sea of Japan, and
\nYellow Sea<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 43,045,098 (July 1990), growth rate 0.8% (1990)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 20 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 6 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: – 1 migrants\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 23 deaths\/1,000 live births (1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 66 years male, 73 years female (1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: noun–Korean(s); adjective–Korean<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: homogeneous; small Chinese minority (about 20,000)<\/p>\n
Religion: strong Confucian tradition; vigorous Christian minority (28%
\nof the total population); Buddhism; pervasive folk religion (Shamanism);
\nChondokyo (religion of the heavenly way), eclectic religion with nationalist
\novertones founded in 19th century, claims about 1.5 million adherents<\/p>\n
Language: Korean; English widely taught in high school<\/p>\n
Literacy: over 90%<\/p>\n
Labor force: 16,900,000; 52% services and other; 27% mining and
\nmanufacturing; 21% agriculture, fishing, forestry (1987)<\/p>\n
Organized labor: about 10% of nonagricultural labor force in
\ngovernment-sanctioned unions<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: Republic of Korea; abbreviated ROK<\/p>\n
Type: republic<\/p>\n
Capital: Seoul<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and
\n6 special cities* (jikhalsi, singular and plural); Cheju-do,
\nCholla-bukto, Cholla-namdo, Ch’ungch’ong-bukto,
\nCh’ungch’ong-namdo, Inch’on-jikhalsi*, Kangwon-do,
\nKwangju-jikhalsi, Kyonggi-do, Kyongsang-bukto,
\nKyongsang-namdo, Pusan-jikhalsi*, Soul-t’ukpyolsi*,
\nTaegu-jikhalsi*, Taejon-jikhalsi<\/p>\n
Independence: 15 August 1948<\/p>\n
Constitution: 25 February 1988<\/p>\n
Legal system: combines elements of continental European civil law systems,
\nAnglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought; has not accepted compulsory
\nICJ jurisdiction<\/p>\n
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 August (1948)<\/p>\n
Executive branch: president, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
\nState Council (cabinet)<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: Supreme Court<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nChief of State–President ROH Tae Woo (since 25 February 1988);<\/p>\n
Head of Government–Prime Minister KANG Young Hoon (since 5 December
\n1988); Deputy Prime Minister CHO Soon (since 5 December 1988)<\/p>\n
Political parties and leaders: major party is government’s Democratic
\nJustice Party (DJP), Roh Tae Woo, president, and Park Tae Chun, chairman;
\nopposition parties are Peace and Democracy Party (PPD), Kim Dae Jung; Korea
\nReunification Democratic Party (RPD), Kim Young Sam; New Democratic Republican
\nParty (NDRP), Kim Jong Pil; several smaller parties<\/p>\n
Suffrage: universal at age 20<\/p>\n
Elections:
\nPresident–last held on 16 December 1987 (next to be held December 1992);
\nresults–Roh Tae Woo (DJP) 35.9%, Kim Young Sam (RDP) 27.5%,
\nKim Dae Jung (PPD) 26.5%, other 10.1%;<\/p>\n
National Assembly–last held on 26 April 1988 (next to be held
\nApril 1992);
\nresults–DJP 34%, RPD 24%, PPD 19%, NDRP 15%, others 8%;
\nseats–(299 total) DJP 125, PPD 71, RPD 59, NDRP 35, others 9<\/p>\n
Communists: Communist party activity banned by government<\/p>\n
Other political or pressure groups: Korean National Council of Churches;
\nlarge, potentially volatile student population concentrated in Seoul; Federation
\nof Korean Trade Unions; Korean Veterans’ Association; Federation of Korean
\nIndustries; Korean Traders Association<\/p>\n
Member of: ADB, AfDB, ASPAC, CCC, Colombo Plan, ESCAP, FAO, G-77,
\nGATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAC, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IHO, IMF,
\nIMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, IRC, ITU, IWC–International Whaling
\nCommission, IWC–International Wheat Council, UNCTAD, UNDP, UNESCO,
\nUNICEF, UNIDO, UN Special Fund, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO;
\nofficial observer status at UN<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Tong-Jin PARK; Chancery at
\n2320 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 939-5600;
\nthere are Korean Consulates General in Agana (Guam), Anchorage, Atlanta,
\nChicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle;
\nUS–Ambassador Donald GREGG; Embassy at 82 Sejong-Ro,
\nChongro-ku, Seoul (mailing address is APO San Francisco 96301); telephone \u00d582\u00e5
\n(2) 732-2601 through 2618; there is a US Consulate in Pusan<\/p>\n
Flag: white with a red (top) and blue yin-yang symbol in the center; there
\nis a different black trigram from the ancient I Ching (Book of Changes)
\nin each corner of the white field<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: The driving force behind the economy’s dynamic growth
\nhas been the planned development of an export-oriented economy in a
\nvigorously entrepreneurial society. GNP increased almost 13% in both
\n1986 and 1987 and 12% in 1988 before slowing to 6.5% in 1989. Such a
\nrapid rate of growth was achieved with an inflation rate of only 3% in the
\nperiod 1986-87, rising to 7% in 1988 and 5% in 1989. Unemployment is
\nalso low, and some labor bottlenecks have appeared in several processing
\nindustries. While the South Korean economy is expected to grow at more
\nthan 5% annually during the 1990s, labor unrest–which led to
\nsubstantial wage hikes in 1987-89–threatens to undermine
\nnoninflationary growth.<\/p>\n
GNP: $200 billion, per capita $4,600; real growth rate 6.5% (1989)<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1989)<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: 3% (1989)<\/p>\n
Budget: revenues $33.6 billion; expenditures $33.6 billion, including
\ncapital expenditures of NA (1990)<\/p>\n
Exports: $62.3 billion (f.o.b., 1989); commodities–textiles,
\nclothing, electronic and electrical equipment, footwear, machinery, steel,
\nautomobiles, ships, fish; partners–US 33%, Japan 21%<\/p>\n
Imports: $61.3 billion (c.i.f., 1989);
\ncommodities–machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil,
\nsteel, transport equipment, textiles, organic chemicals, grains;
\npartners–Japan 28%, US 25% (1990)<\/p>\n
External debt: $30.5 billion (September 1989)<\/p>\n
Industrial production: growth rate 3.5% (1989)<\/p>\n
Electricity: 20,500,000 kW capacity; 80,000 million kWh produced,
\n1,850 kWh per capita (1989)<\/p>\n
Industries: textiles, clothing, footwear, food processing, chemicals,
\nsteel, electronics, automobile production, ship building<\/p>\n
Agriculture: accounts for 11% of GNP and employs 21% of work force
\n(including fishing and forestry); principal crops–rice, root crops, barley,
\nvegetables, fruit; livestock and livestock products–cattle, hogs, chickens,
\nmilk, eggs; self-sufficient in food, except for wheat; fish catch of 2.9
\nmillion metric tons, seventh-largest in world<\/p>\n
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-85), $3.9 billion<\/p>\n
Currency: South Korean won (plural–won);
\n1 South Korean won (W) = 100 chon (theoretical)<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: South Korean won (W) per US$1–683.43 (January 1990),
\n671.46 (1989), 731.47 (1988), 822.57 (1987), 881.45 (1986), 870.02 (1985)<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: calendar year<\/p>\n
Communications
\nRailroads: 3,106 km operating in 1983; 3,059 km 1.435-meter standard
\ngauge, 47 km 0.610-meter narrow gauge, 712 km double track, 418 km
\nelectrified; government owned<\/p>\n
Highways: 62,936 km total (1982); 13,476 km national highway, 49,460 km
\nprovincial and local roads<\/p>\n
Inland waterways: 1,609 km; use restricted to small native craft<\/p>\n
Pipelines: 294 km refined products<\/p>\n
Ports: Pusan, Inchon, Kunsan, Mokpo, Ulsan<\/p>\n
Merchant marine: 423 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,006,481
\nGRT\/11,658,104 DWT; includes 2 short-sea passenger, 130 cargo, 41 container,
\n11 refrigerated cargo, 11 vehicle carrier, 49 petroleum, oils, and lubricants
\n(POL) tanker, 8 chemical tanker, 10 liquefied gas, 10 combination ore\/oil,
\n143 bulk, 7 combination bulk, 1 multifunction large-load carrier<\/p>\n
Civil air: 93 major transport aircraft<\/p>\n
Airports: 112 total, 105 usable; 61 with permanent-surface runways;
\nnone with runways over 3,659 m; with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 17 with
\nrunways 1,220-2,439 m<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: adequate domestic and international services;
\n4,800,000 telephones; stations–79 AM, 46 FM, 256 TV (57 of 1 kW or greater);
\nsatellite earth stations–2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nBranches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps<\/p>\n
Military manpower: males 15-49, 12,792,426; 8,260,886 fit for military
\nservice; 445,320 reach military age (18) annually<\/p>\n
Defense expenditures: 5% of GNP, or $10 billion (1989 est.)
\n.pa
\nKuwait
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 17,820 km2; land area: 17,820 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: 462 km total; Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km<\/p>\n
Coastline: 499 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Continental shelf: not specific;<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 12 nm<\/p>\n
Disputes: ownership of Warbah and Bubiyan islands disputed
\nby Iraq; ownership of Qaruh and Umm al Maradim Islands disputed by
\nSaudi Arabia<\/p>\n
Climate: dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters<\/p>\n
Terrain: flat to slightly undulating desert plain<\/p>\n
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas<\/p>\n
Land use: NEGL% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 8% meadows and
\npastures; NEGL% forest and woodland; 92% other; includes NEGL% irrigated<\/p>\n
Environment: some of world’s largest and most sophisticated desalination
\nfacilities provide most of water; air and water pollution; desertification<\/p>\n
Note: strategic location at head of Persian Gulf<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 2,123,711 (July 1990), growth rate 3.8% (1990)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 29 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 2 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: 11 migrants\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 15 deaths\/1,000 live births (1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 76 years female (1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 3.7 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: noun–Kuwaiti(s); adjective–Kuwaiti<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: 27.9% Kuwaiti, 39% other Arab, 9% South Asian, 4%
\nIranian, 20.1% other<\/p>\n
Religion: 85% Muslim (30% Shia, 45% Sunni, 10% other),
\n15% Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other<\/p>\n
Language: Arabic (official); English widely spoken<\/p>\n
Literacy: 71% (est.)<\/p>\n
Labor force: 566,000 (1986); 45.0% services, 20.0% construction, 12.0%
\ntrade, 8.6% manufacturing, 2.6% finance and real estate, 1.9% agriculture, 1.7%
\npower and water, 1.4% mining and quarrying; 70% of labor force is non-Kuwaiti<\/p>\n
Organized labor: labor unions exist in oil industry and among government
\npersonnel<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: State of Kuwait<\/p>\n
Type: nominal constitutional monarchy<\/p>\n
Capital: Kuwait<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: 4 governorates (muhafazat,
\nsingular–muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al Jahrah, Al Kuwayt,
\nHawalli; note–there may be a new governorate of Farwaniyyah<\/p>\n
Independence: 19 June 1961 (from UK)<\/p>\n
Constitution: 16 November 1962 (some provisions suspended since 29
\nAugust 1962)<\/p>\n
Legal system: civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal
\nmatters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction<\/p>\n
National holiday: National Day, 25 February<\/p>\n
Executive branch: amir, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
\nCouncil of Ministers (cabinet)<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: National Assembly (Majlis al Umma) dissolved
\n3 July 1986<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: High Court of Appeal<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nChief of State–Amir Sheikh Jabir al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al SABAH
\n(since 31 December 1977);<\/p>\n
Head of Government–Prime Minister and Crown Prince Sad Abdallah
\nal-Salim Al SABAH (since 8 February 1978)<\/p>\n
Political parties and leaders: none<\/p>\n
Suffrage: adult males who resided in Kuwait before 1920 and their male
\ndescendants at age 21; note–out of all citizens, only 8.3% are
\neligible to vote and only 3.5% actually vote<\/p>\n
Elections:
\nNational Assembly–dissolved 3 July 1986 and no elections are
\nplanned<\/p>\n
Communists: insignificant<\/p>\n
Other political or pressure groups: large (350,000) Palestinian
\ncommunity; several small, clandestine leftist and Shia fundamentalist groups
\nare active<\/p>\n
Member of: Arab League, FAO, G-77, GATT, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
\nIDB–Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
\nIPU, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Shaikh Saud Nasir AL-SABAH;
\nChancery at 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington DC 20008;
\ntelephone (202) 966-0702;
\nUS–Ambassador W. Nathaniel HOWELL; Embassy at Bneid al-Gar (opposite the
\nHilton Hotel), Kuwait City (mailing address is P. O. Box 77 Safat, 13001 Safat,
\nKuwait City); telephone \u00d5965\u00e5 242-4151 through 4159<\/p>\n
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a
\nblack trapezoid based on the hoist side<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: The oil sector dominates the economy. Of the countries in the
\nMiddle East, Kuwait has oil reserves second only to those of Saudi Arabia.
\nEarnings from hydrocarbons generate over 90% of both export and government
\nrevenues and contribute about 40% to GDP. Most of the nonoil sector is dependent
\nupon oil-derived government revenues to provide infrastructure development and
\nto promote limited industrial diversification. The economy is heavily dependent
\nupon foreign labor–Kuwaitis account for less than 20% of the labor force. The
\nearly years of the Iran-Iraq war pushed Kuwait’s GDP well below its 1980 peak;
\nhowever, during the period 1986-88, GDP increased each year, rising to 5% in
\n1988.<\/p>\n
GDP: $20.5 billion, per capita $10,500; real growth rate 5.0% (1988)<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (1988)<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: 0%<\/p>\n
Budget: revenues $7.1 billion; expenditures $10.5 billion, including
\ncapital expenditures of $3.1 billion (FY88)<\/p>\n
Exports: $7.1 billion (f.o.b., 1988); commodities–oil 90%;
\npartners–Japan, Italy, FRG, US<\/p>\n
Imports: $5.2 billion (f.o.b., 1988); commodities–food,
\nconstruction material, vehicles and parts, clothing; partners–Japan,
\nUS, FRG, UK<\/p>\n
External debt: $7.2 billion (December 1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Industrial production: growth rate 3% (1988)<\/p>\n
Electricity: 8,287,000 kW capacity; 21,500 million kWh produced,
\n10,710 kWh per capita (1989)<\/p>\n
Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, desalination, food processing,
\nsalt, construction<\/p>\n
Agriculture: virtually none; dependent on imports for food; about 75% of
\npotable water must be distilled or imported<\/p>\n
Aid: donor–pledged $18.3 billion in bilateral aid to less developed
\ncountries (1979-89)<\/p>\n
Currency: Kuwaiti dinar (plural–dinars);
\n1 Kuwaiti dinar (KD) = 1,000 fils<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US$1–0.2915 (January 1990),
\n0.2937 (1989), 0.2790 (1988), 0.2786 (1987), 0.2919 (1986), 0.3007 (1985)<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June<\/p>\n
Communications
\nHighways: 3,000 km total; 2,500 km bituminous; 500 km earth, sand, light
\ngravel<\/p>\n
Pipelines: crude oil, 877 km; refined products, 40 km; natural gas, 165 km<\/p>\n
Ports: Ash Shuwaykh, Ash Shuaybah, Mina al Ahmadi<\/p>\n
Merchant marine: 51 ships (1,000 GRT or over), totaling 1,862,010
\nGRT\/2,935,007 DWT; includes 18 cargo, 5 container, 5 livestock carrier,
\n18 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 5 liquefied gas<\/p>\n
Civil air: 19 major transport aircraft<\/p>\n
Airports: 8 total, 4 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways;
\nnone with runways over 3,659 m; 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
\nnone with runways 1,220-2,439 m<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: excellent international, adequate domestic facilities;
\n258,000 telephones; stations–3 AM, 2 FM, 3 TV; satellite earth stations–1
\nIndian Ocean INTELSAT, and 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT; 1 INMARSAT, 1 ARABSAT;
\ncoaxial cable and radio relay to Iraq and Saudi Arabia<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nBranches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force, National Guard<\/p>\n
Military manpower: males 15-49, about 688,516; about 411,742 fit for
\nmilitary service; 18,836 reach military age (18) annually<\/p>\n
Defense expenditures: 5.8% of GDP, or $1.2 billion (FY89)
\n.pa
\nLaos
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 236,800 km2; land area: 230,800 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly larger than Utah<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: 5,083 km total; Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China
\n423 km, Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km<\/p>\n
Coastline: none–landlocked<\/p>\n
Maritime claims: none–landlocked<\/p>\n
Disputes: boundary dispute with Thailand<\/p>\n
Climate: tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season
\n(December to April)<\/p>\n
Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus<\/p>\n
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold,
\ngemstones<\/p>\n
Land use: 4% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 3% meadows and
\npastures; 58% forest and woodland; 35% other; includes 1% irrigated<\/p>\n
Environment: deforestation; soil erosion; subject to floods<\/p>\n
Note: landlocked<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 4,023,726 (July 1990), growth rate 2.2% (1990)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 37 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 15 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: 0 migrants\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 126 deaths\/1,000 live births (1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 48 years male, 51 years female (1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 5.1 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: noun–Lao (sing., Lao or Laotian); adjective–Lao or Laotian<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: 50% Lao, 15% Phoutheung (Kha), 20% tribal Thai, 15% Meo,
\nHmong, Yao, and other<\/p>\n
Religion: 85% Buddhist, 15% animist and other<\/p>\n
Language: Lao (official), French, and English<\/p>\n
Literacy: 85%<\/p>\n
Labor force: 1-1.5 million; 85-90% in agriculture (est.)<\/p>\n
Organized labor: Lao Federation of Trade Unions is subordinate to the
\nCommunist party<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: Lao People’s Democratic Republic<\/p>\n
Type: Communist state<\/p>\n
Capital: Vientiane<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: 16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural)
\nand 1 municipality* (kampheng nakhon, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo,
\nBolikhamsai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louang Namtha, Louangphrabang,
\nOudomxai, Phongsali, Saravan, Savannakhet, Sekong, Vientiane,
\nVientiane*, Xaignabouri, Xiangkhoang<\/p>\n
Independence: 19 July 1949 (from France)<\/p>\n
Constitution: draft constitution under discussion since 1976<\/p>\n
Legal system: based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
\njurisdiction<\/p>\n
National holiday: National Day (proclamation of the Lao People’s
\nDemocratic Republic), 2 December (1975)<\/p>\n
Executive branch: president, chairman and five vice chairmen of the
\nCouncil of Ministers, Council of Ministers (cabinet)<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: Supreme People’s Assembly<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: Central Supreme Court<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nChief of State–Acting President PHOUMI VONGVICHIT (since 29 October
\n1986);<\/p>\n
Head of Government–Chairman of the Council of Ministers General
\nKAYSONE PHOMVIHAN (since 2 December 1975)<\/p>\n
Political parties and leaders: Lao People’s Revolutionary Party
\n(LPRP), Kaysone Phomvihan, party chairman; includes Lao Patriotic
\nFront and Alliance Committee of Patriotic Neutralist Forces; other
\nparties moribund<\/p>\n
Suffrage: universal at age 18<\/p>\n
Elections:
\nSupreme People’s Assembly–last held on 26 March 1989 (next to be
\nheld NA); results–percent of vote by party NA;
\nseats–(79 total) number of seats by party NA<\/p>\n
Other political or pressure groups: non-Communist political groups
\nmoribund; most leaders have fled the country<\/p>\n
Member of: ADB, Colombo Plan, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD,
\nILO, IMF, INTERPOL, IPU, IRC, ITU, Mekong Committee, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
\nUPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: First Secretary, Charge d’Affaires ad interim
\nDONE SOMVORACHIT; Chancery at 2222 S Street NW, Washington DC 20008;
\ntelephone (202) 332-6416 or 6417;
\nUS–Charge d’Affaires Charles B. SALMON; Embassy at Rue
\nBartholonie, Vientiane (mailing address is B. P. 114, Vientiane, or
\nBox V, APO San Francisco 96346); telephone 2220, 2357, 2384<\/p>\n
Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red
\nwith a large white disk centered in the blue band<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: One of the world’s poorest nations, Laos has had a Communist
\ncentrally planned economy with government ownership and control of
\nproductive enterprises of any size. Recently, however, the government
\nhas been decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise.
\nLaos is a landlocked country with a primitive infrastructure, that is,
\nit has no railroads, a rudimentary road system, limited
\nexternal and internal telecommunications, and electricity
\navailable in only a limited area. Subsistence agriculture is the
\nmain occupation, accounting for over 60% of GDP and providing about 85-90% of
\ntotal employment. The predominant crop is rice. For the foreseeable future the
\neconomy will continue to depend for its survival on foreign aid–from
\nCEMA, IMF, and other international sources.<\/p>\n
GDP: $585 million, per capita $150; real growth rate 3% (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 35% (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: 15% (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Budget: revenues $71 million; expenditures $198 million, including
\ncapital expenditures of $132 million (1988 est.)<\/p>\n
Exports: $57.5 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.); commodities–
\nelectricity, wood products, coffee, tin; partners–Thailand, Malaysia,
\nVietnam, USSR, US<\/p>\n
Imports: $219 million (c.i.f., 1989 est.); commodities–food, fuel
\noil, consumer goods, manufactures; partners–Thailand, USSR, Japan,
\nFrance, Vietnam<\/p>\n
External debt: $964 million (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Industrial production: growth rate 8% (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Electricity: 176,000 kW capacity; 900 million kWh produced,
\n225 kWh per capita (1989)<\/p>\n
Industries: tin mining, timber, electric power, agricultural
\nprocessing<\/p>\n
Agriculture: accounts for 60% of GDP and employs most of the work force;
\nsubsistence farming predominates; normally self-sufficient; principal
\ncrops–rice (80% of cultivated land), potatoes, vegetables, coffee,
\nsugarcane, cotton<\/p>\n
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis and opium poppy for the
\ninternational drug trade; production of cannabis increased in 1989;
\nmarijuana and heroin are shipped to Western countries, including the US<\/p>\n
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-79), $276 million; Western
\n(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $468
\nmillion; Communist countries (1970-88), $895 million<\/p>\n
Currency: new kip (plural–kips); 1 new kip (NK) = 100 at<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: new kips (NK) per US$1–700 (December 1989), 725 (1989),
\n350 (1988), 200 (1987), 108 (1986), 95 (1985)<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June<\/p>\n
Communications
\nHighways: about 27,527 km total; 1,856 km bituminous or bituminous
\ntreated; 7,451 km gravel, crushed stone, or improved earth; 18,220 km unimproved
\nearth and often impassable during rainy season mid-May to mid-September<\/p>\n
Inland waterways: about 4,587 km, primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897
\nadditional kilometers are sectionally navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m<\/p>\n
Pipelines: 136 km, refined products<\/p>\n
Ports: none<\/p>\n
Airports: 64 total, 50 usable; 9 with permanent-surface runways;
\nnone with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
\n12 with runways 1,220-2,439 m<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: service to general public considered poor; radio
\nnetwork provides generally erratic service to government users; 7,390 telephones
\n(1986); stations–10 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 satellite earth station<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nBranches: Lao People’s Army (LPA, which consists of an army with naval,
\naviation, and militia elements), Air Force, National Police Department<\/p>\n
Military manpower: males 15-49, 967,047; 517,666 fit for military service;
\n44,176 reach military age (18) annually; conscription age NA<\/p>\n
Defense expenditures: 3.8% of GDP (1987)
\n.pa
\nLebanon
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 10,400 km2; land area: 10,230 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: about 0.8 times the size of Connecticut<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: 454 km total; Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km<\/p>\n
Coastline: 225 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 12 nm<\/p>\n
Disputes: separated from Israel by the 1949 Armistice Line;
\nIsraeli troops in southern Lebanon since June 1982; Syrian troops in
\nnorthern Lebanon since October 1976<\/p>\n
Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers<\/p>\n
Terrain: narrow coastal plain; Al Biqa (Bekaa Valley) separates
\nLebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains<\/p>\n
Natural resources: limestone, iron ore, salt; water-surplus state
\nin a water-deficit region<\/p>\n
Land use: 21% arable land; 9% permanent crops; 1% meadows and
\npastures; 8% forest and woodland; 61% other; includes 7% irrigated<\/p>\n
Environment: rugged terrain historically helped isolate, protect,
\nand develop numerous factional groups based on religion, clan, ethnicity;
\ndeforestation; soil erosion; air and water pollution; desertification<\/p>\n
Note: Nahr al Litani only major river in Near East
\nnot crossing an international boundary<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 3,339,331 (July 1990), growth rate 1.3% (1990)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 28 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 7 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: – 8 migrants\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 49 deaths\/1,000 live births (1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 66 years male, 70 years female (1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 3.7 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: noun–Lebanese (sing., pl.); adjective–Lebanese<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: 93% Arab, 6% Armenian, 1% other<\/p>\n
Religion: 75% Islam, 25% Christian, NEGL% Judaism; 17 legally recognized
\nsects–4 Orthodox Christian (Armenian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, Nestorean,
\nSyriac Orthodox), 7 Uniate Christian (Armenian Catholic, Caldean, Greek
\nCatholic, Maronite, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Syrian Catholic), 5 Islam
\n(Alawite or Nusayri, Druze, Ismailite, Shia, Sunni), and 1 Jewish<\/p>\n
Language: Arabic and French (both official); Armenian, English<\/p>\n
Literacy: 75%<\/p>\n
Labor force: 650,000; 79% industry, commerce, and services,
\n11% agriculture, 10% goverment (1985)<\/p>\n
Organized labor: 250,000 members (est.)<\/p>\n
Government
\nNote: Between early 1975 and late 1976 Lebanon was torn by civil
\nwar between its Christians–then aided by Syrian troops–and its Muslims
\nand their Palestinian allies. The cease-fire established in October
\n1976 between the domestic political groups generally held for about six
\nyears, despite occasional fighting. Syrian troops constituted as the Arab
\nDeterrent Force by the Arab League have remained in Lebanon. Syria’s
\nmove toward supporting the Lebanese Muslims and the Palestinians and
\nIsrael’s growing support for Lebanese Christians brought the two sides
\ninto rough equilibrium, but no progress was made toward national
\nreconciliation or political reforms–the original cause of the war.<\/p>\n
Continuing Israeli concern about the Palestinian presence in
\nLebanon led to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in June 1982. Israeli
\nforces occupied all of the southern portion of the country and mounted a
\nsummer-long siege of Beirut, which resulted in the evacuation of the
\nPLO from Beirut in September under the supervision of a multinational
\nforce (MNF) made up of US, French, and Italian troops.<\/p>\n
Within days of the departure of the MNF, Lebanon’s newly elected
\npresident, Bashir Gemayel, was assassinated. In the wake of his death,
\nChristian militiamen massacred hundreds of Palestinian refugees in two
\nBeirut camps. This prompted the return of the MNF to ease the security
\nburden on Lebanon’s weak Army and security forces. In late March 1984
\nthe last MNF units withdrew.<\/p>\n
Lebanese Parliamentarians met in Taif, Saudi Arabia in late 1989 and
\nconcluded a national reconciliation pact that codified a new power-sharing
\nformula, specifiying a Christian president but giving Muslims more
\nauthority. Rene Muawad was subsequently elected president on 4 November
\n1989, ending a 13-month period during which Lebanon had no president and
\nrival Muslim and Christian governments. Muawad was assassinated
\n17 days later, on 22 November; on 24 November Elias Harawi was
\nelected to succeed Muawad.<\/p>\n
Progress toward lasting political compromise in Lebanon has been
\nstalled by opposition from Christian strongman Gen. Michel Awn.
\nAwn–appointed acting Prime Minister by outgoing president Amin Gemayel
\nin September 1988–called the national reconciliation accord
\nillegitimate and has refused to recognize the new Lebanese Government.<\/p>\n
Lebanon continues to be partially occupied by Syrian troops. Syria
\naugmented its troop presence during the weeks following Muawad’s
\nassassination. Troops are deployed in West Beirut and its southern
\nsuburbs, in Al Biqa, and in northern Lebanon. Iran also maintains
\na small contingent of revolutionary guards in Al Biqa, from
\nwhich it supports Lebanese Islamic fundamentalist groups.<\/p>\n
Israel withdrew the bulk of its forces from the south in 1985,
\nalthough it still retains troops in a 10-km-deep security zone north
\nof its border with Lebanon. Israel arms and trains the Army of South
\nLebanon (ASL), which also occupies the security zone and is Israel’s
\nfirst line of defense against attacks on its northern border.<\/p>\n
The following description is based on the present constitutional and
\ncustomary practices of the Lebanese system.<\/p>\n
Long-form name: Republic of Lebanon; note–may be changed to
\nLebanese Republic<\/p>\n
Type: republic<\/p>\n
Capital: Beirut<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: 5 governorates (muhafazat,
\nsingular–muhafazah); Al Biqa, Al Janub, Ash Shamal,
\nBayrut, Jabal Lubnan<\/p>\n
Independence: 22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under
\nFrench administration)<\/p>\n
Constitution: 26 May 1926 (amended)<\/p>\n
Legal system: mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code,
\nand civil law; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted
\ncompulsory ICJ jurisdiction<\/p>\n
National holiday: Independence Day, 22 November (1943)<\/p>\n
Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet; note–by custom,
\nthe president is a Maronite Christian, the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim,
\nand the president of the legislature is a Shia Muslim<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Arabic–Majlis
\nAlnuwab, French–Assemblee Nationale)<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil and
\ncommercial cases and one court for criminal cases)<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nChief of State–Elias HARAWI (since 24 November 1989);<\/p>\n
Head of Government–Prime Minister Salim AL-HUSS (since 24
\nNovember 1989)<\/p>\n
Political parties and leaders: political party activity is organized along
\nlargely sectarian lines; numerous political groupings exist, consisting of
\nindividual political figures and followers motivated by religious, clan, and
\neconomic considerations; most parties have well-armed militias, which are still
\ninvolved in occasional clashes<\/p>\n
Suffrage: compulsory for all males at age 21; authorized for women
\nat age 21 with elementary education<\/p>\n
Elections:
\nNational Assembly–elections should be held every four years
\nbut security conditions have prevented elections since May 1972<\/p>\n
Communists: the Lebanese Communist Party was legalized in 1970; members
\nand sympathizers estimated at 2,000-3,000<\/p>\n
Member of: Arab League, CCC, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
\nIDB–Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
\nIPU, ITU, IWC–International Wheat Council, NAM, OIC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU,
\nWHO, WMO, WSG, WTO<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador (vacant); Charge
\nd’Affaires Suleiman RASSI; note–the former Lebanese Ambassador,
\nDr. Abdallah Bouhabib, is loyal to Gen. Awn and has refused to
\nabandon his residence or relinquish his post; Chancery at 2560 28th
\nStreet NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 939-6300;
\nthere are Lebanese Consulates General in Detroit, New York, and Los Angeles;
\nUS–Ambassador John T. MCCARTHY; Embassy at Avenue de Paris, Beirut
\n(mailing address is P. O. Box 70-840, Beirut); telephone \u00d5961\u00e5 417774 or 415802,
\n415803, 402200, 403300<\/p>\n
Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), white (double width), and red
\nwith a green and brown cedar tree centered in the white band<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: Severe factional infighting in 1989 has been destroying physical
\nproperty, interrupting the established pattern of economic affairs, and
\npractically ending chances of restoring Lebanon’s position as a Middle
\nEastern entrepot and banking hub. The ordinary Lebanese citizen
\nstruggles to keep afloat in an environment of physical danger, high
\nunemployment, and growing shortages. The central government’s ability
\nto collect taxes has suffered greatly from militia control and taxation
\nof local areas. As the civil strife persists, the US dollar has become
\nmore and more the medium of exchange. Transportation,
\ncommunications, and other parts of the infrastructure continue to deteriorate.
\nFamily remittances, foreign political money going to the factions, international
\nemergency aid, and a small volume of manufactured exports help prop up the
\nbattered economy. Prospects for 1990 are grim, with expected further declines in
\neconomic activity and living standards.<\/p>\n
GDP: $2.3 billion, per capita $700; real growth rate NA% (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 60% (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: 33% (1987 est.)<\/p>\n
Budget: revenues $50 million; expenditures $650 million, including
\ncapital expenditures of $NA (1988 est.)<\/p>\n
Exports: $1.0 billion (f.o.b., 1987);
\ncommodities–agricultural products, chemicals, textiles, precious
\nand semiprecious metals and jewelry, metals and metal products;
\npartners–Saudi Arabia 16%, Switzerland 8%, Jordan 6%, Kuwait 6%, US 5%<\/p>\n
Imports: $1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1987); commodities–NA;
\npartners–Italy 14%, France 12%, US 6%, Turkey 5%, Saudi Arabia 3%<\/p>\n
External debt: $935 million (December 1988)<\/p>\n
Industrial production: growth rate NA%<\/p>\n
Electricity: 1,381,000 kW capacity; 3,870 million kWh produced,
\n1,170 kWh per capita (1989)<\/p>\n
Industries: banking, food processing, textiles, cement, oil refining,
\nchemicals, jewelry, some metal fabricating<\/p>\n
Agriculture: accounts for about one-third of GDP; principal
\nproducts–citrus fruits, vegetables, potatoes, olives, tobacco, hemp
\n(hashish), sheep, and goats; not self-sufficient in grain<\/p>\n
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of opium poppy and cannabis for the
\ninternational drug trade; opium poppy production in Al Biqa
\nis increasing; most hashish production is shipped to
\nWestern Europe<\/p>\n
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $356 million; Western
\n(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $509 million;
\nOPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $962 million; Communist countries (1970-86),
\n$9 million<\/p>\n
Currency: Lebanese pound (plural–pounds);
\n1 Lebanese pound (LL) = 100 piasters<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: Lebanese pounds (LL) per US$1–474.21 (December 1989),
\n496.69 (1989), 409.23 (1988), 224.60 (1987), 38.37 (1986), 16.42 (1985)<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: calendar year<\/p>\n
Communications
\nRailroads: 378 km total; 296 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 82 km
\n1.050-meter gauge; all single track; system almost entirely inoperable<\/p>\n
Highways: 7,370 km total; 6,270 km paved, 450 km gravel and crushed stone,
\n650 km improved earth<\/p>\n
Pipelines: crude oil, 72 km (none in operation)<\/p>\n
Ports: Beirut, Tripoli, Ras Silata, Juniyah, Sidon,
\nAz Zahrani, Tyre, Shikka (none are under the direct control
\nof the Lebanese Government); northern ports are occupied by Syrian
\nforces and southern ports are occupied or partially quarantined by
\nIsraeli forces; illegal ports scattered along the central coast are
\nowned and operated by various Christian, Druze, and Shia militias<\/p>\n
Merchant marine: 67 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 325,361
\nGRT\/494,319 DWT; includes 43 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo, 2 vehicle
\ncarrier, 2 roll-on\/roll-off cargo, 2 container, 7 livestock carrier, 1
\npetroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker,
\n1 specialized tanker, 6 bulk, 1 combination bulk<\/p>\n
Civil air: 15 major transport aircraft<\/p>\n
Airports: 9 total, 8 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways;
\nnone with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
\n2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m; none under the direct control of the
\nLebanese Government<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: rebuilding program disrupted; had fair system of
\nradio relay, cable; 325,000 telephones; stations–5 AM, 3 FM, 15 TV;
\n1 inactive Indian Ocean INTELSAT satellite earth station; 3 submarine
\ncoaxial cables; radio relay to Jordan and Syria, inoperable<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nBranches: Army, Navy, Air Force<\/p>\n
Military manpower: males 15-49, 702,961; 434,591 fit for military
\nservice; about 44,625 reach military age (18) yearly<\/p>\n
Defense expenditures: NA
\n.pa
\nLesotho
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 30,350 km2; land area: 30,350 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland<\/p>\n
Land boundary: 909 km with South Africa<\/p>\n
Coastline: none–landlocked<\/p>\n
Maritime claims: none–landlocked<\/p>\n
Climate: temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers<\/p>\n
Terrain: mostly highland with some plateaus, hills, and mountains<\/p>\n
Natural resources: some diamonds and other minerals, water,
\nagricultural and grazing land<\/p>\n
Land use: 10% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 66% meadows and
\npastures; 0% forest and woodland; 24% other<\/p>\n
Environment: population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas
\nresults in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, soil exhaustion; desertification<\/p>\n
Note: surrounded by South Africa; Highlands Water Project will control,
\nstore, and redirect water to South Africa<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 1,754,664 (July 1990), growth rate 2.6% (1990)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 37 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 10 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: 0 migrants\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 80 deaths\/1,000 live births (1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 59 years male, 62 years female (1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 4.9 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: noun–Mosotho (sing.), Basotho (pl.); adjective–Basotho<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: 99.7% Sotho; 1,600 Europeans, 800 Asians<\/p>\n
Religion: 80% Christian, rest indigenous beliefs<\/p>\n
Language: Sesotho (southern Sotho) and English (official); also Zulu and
\nXhosa<\/p>\n
Literacy: 59% (1989)<\/p>\n
Labor force: 689,000 economically active; 86.2% of resident population
\nengaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 60% of active male labor force works
\nin South Africa<\/p>\n
Organized labor: there are two trade union federations; the
\ngovernment favors formation of a single, umbrella trade union
\nconfederation<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: Kingdom of Lesotho<\/p>\n
Type: constitutional monarchy<\/p>\n
Capital: Maseru<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe,
\nMafeteng, Maseru, Mohales Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qachas Nek, Quthing,
\nThaba-Tseka<\/p>\n
Independence: 4 October 1966 (from UK; formerly Basutoland)<\/p>\n
Constitution: 4 October 1966, suspended January 1970<\/p>\n
Legal system: based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law;
\njudicial review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal; has
\nnot accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction<\/p>\n
National holiday: Independence Day, 4 October (1966)<\/p>\n
Executive branch: monarch, chairman of the Military Council, Military
\nCouncil, Council of Ministers (cabinet)<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: a bicameral Parliament consisting of an upper house
\nor Senate and a lower house or National Assembly was dissolved in January 1970;
\nfollowing the military coup of 20 January 1986, legislative powers were vested
\nin the monarch<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: High Court, Court of Appeal<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nChief of State–King MOSHOESHOE II (Paramount Chief from 1960 until
\nindependence on 4 October 1966, when he became King); Heir Apparent Letsie
\nDavid SEEISO (son of the King);<\/p>\n
Head of Government–Chairman of the Military Council Maj. Gen. Justin
\nMetsing LEKHANYA (since 24 January 1986)<\/p>\n
Political parties and leaders: Basotho National Party (BNP),
\nposition vacant; Basutoland Congress Party (BCP), Ntsu Mokhehle; Basotho
\nDemocratic Alliance (BDA), A. S. Nqojane; National Independent Party (NIP),
\nA. C. Manyeli; Marematlou Freedom Party (MFP), S. H. Mapheleba; United
\nDemocratic Party, C. D. Mofeli<\/p>\n
Suffrage: universal at age 21<\/p>\n
Elections:
\nNational Assembly –dissolved following the military coup in
\nJanuary 1986; no date set for national elections<\/p>\n
Communists: small Lesotho Communist Party<\/p>\n
Member of: ACP, AfDB, CCC, Commonwealth, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD,
\nICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, ITU, NAM, OAU, Southern African
\nCustoms Union, SADCC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador W. T. VAN TONDER; Chancery at
\n2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 797-5 534;
\nUS–Ambassador (vacant): Deputy Chief of Mission Howard F. JETER;
\nEmbassy at address NA, Maseru (mailing address is P. O. Box 333, Maseru
\n100); telephone \u00d5266\u00e5 312666<\/p>\n
Flag: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper half
\nis white bearing the brown silhouette of a large shield with crossed spear and
\nclub; the lower half is a diagonal blue band with a green triangle in the corner<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho has no important
\nnatural resources other than water. Its economy is based on agriculture,
\nlight manufacturing, and remittances from laborers employed in South Africa.
\nSubsistence farming is the principal occupation for about 86% of the domestic
\nlabor force and accounts for about 20% of GDP. Manufacturing depends largely on
\nfarm products to support the milling, canning, leather, and jute industries;
\nother industries include textile, clothing, and light engineering. Industry’s
\nshare of total GDP rose from 6% in 1982 to 10.5% in 1987. During the period
\n1985-87 real GDP growth averaged 2.9% per year, only slightly above the
\npopulation growth rate. In FY89 per capita GDP was only $245 and
\nnearly 25% of the labor force was unemployed.<\/p>\n
GDP: $412 million, per capita $245; real growth rate 8.2% (FY89 est.)<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15.0% (FY89 est.)<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: 23% (1988)<\/p>\n
Budget: revenues $159 million; expenditures $224 million, including
\ncapital expenditures of $68 million (FY89 est.)<\/p>\n
Exports: $55 million (f.o.b., FY89 est.); commodities–wool,
\nmohair, wheat, cattle, peas, beans, corn, hides, skins, baskets;
\npartners–South Africa 87%, EC 10%, (1985)<\/p>\n
Imports: $526 million (f.o.b., FY89 est.); commodities–mainly
\ncorn, building materials, clothing, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum,
\noil, and lubricants; partners–South Africa 95%, EC 2% (1985)<\/p>\n
External debt: $235 million (December 1988)<\/p>\n
Industrial production: growth rate 10.3% (1988 est.)<\/p>\n
Electricity: power supplied by South Africa<\/p>\n
Industries: tourism<\/p>\n
Agriculture: exceedingly primitive, mostly subsistence farming and
\nlivestock; principal crops are corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley<\/p>\n
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $252 million; Western
\n(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $714 million;
\nOPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $4 million; Communist countries (1970-88),
\n$14 million<\/p>\n
Currency: loti (plural–maloti); 1 loti (L) = 100 lisente<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: maloti (M) per US$1–2.5555 (January 1990),
\n2.6166 (1989), 2.2611 (1988), 2.0350 (1987), 2.2685 (1986), 2.1911 (1985);
\nnote–the Basotho loti is at par with the South African rand<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March<\/p>\n
Communications
\nRailroads: 1.6 km; owned, operated, and included in the statistics of
\nSouth Africa<\/p>\n
Highways: 5,167 km total; 508 km paved; 1,585 km crushed stone,
\ngravel, or stabilized soil; 946 km improved earth, 2,128 km unimproved earth<\/p>\n
Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft<\/p>\n
Airports: 28 total, 28 usable; 2 with permanent surface runways;
\nnone with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
\n2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: modest system consisting of a few land lines, a small
\nradio relay system, and minor radiocommunication stations; 5,920 telephones;
\nstations–2 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nBranches: Army, Air Wing, Police Department<\/p>\n
Military manpower: males 15-49, 381,015; 205,499 fit for military service<\/p>\n
Defense expenditures: 8.6% of GDP, or $35 million (1989 est.)
\n.pa
\nLiberia
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 111,370 km2; land area: 96,320 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly larger than Tennessee<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: 1,585 km total; Guinea 563 km, Ivory Coast 716 km,
\nSierra Leone 306 km<\/p>\n
Coastline: 579 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation;<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 200 nm<\/p>\n
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool
\nto cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers<\/p>\n
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau
\nand low mountains in northeast<\/p>\n
Natural resources: iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold<\/p>\n
Land use: 1% arable land; 3% permanent crops; 2% meadows and pastures;
\n39% forest and woodland; 55% other; includes NEGL% irrigated<\/p>\n
Environment: West Africa’s largest tropical rain forest, subject to
\ndeforestation<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 2,639,809 (July 1990), growth rate 3.4% (1990)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 45 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 14 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: 2 migrants\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 126 deaths\/1,000 live births (1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 54 years male, 58 years female (1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 6.6 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: noun–Liberian(s); adjective–Liberian<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: 95% indigenous African tribes, including Kpelle, Bassa,
\nGio, Kru, Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, and Bella; 5%
\ndescendants of repatriated slaves known as Americo-Liberians<\/p>\n
Religion: 70% traditional, 20% Muslim, 10% Christian<\/p>\n
Language: English (official); more than 20 local languages of the
\nNiger-Congo language group; English used by about 20%<\/p>\n
Literacy: 35%<\/p>\n
Labor force: 510,000, including 220,000 in the monetary economy;
\n70.5% agriculture, 10.8% services, 4.5% industry and commerce, 14.2% other;
\nnon-African foreigners hold about 95% of the top-level management and
\nengineering jobs; 52% of population of working age<\/p>\n
Organized labor: 2% of labor force<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: Republic of Liberia<\/p>\n
Type: republic<\/p>\n
Capital: Monrovia<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: 13 counties; Bomi, Bong, Grand Bassa,
\nGrand Cape Mount, Grand Jide, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado,
\nNimba, Rivercess, Sino<\/p>\n
Independence: 26 July 1847<\/p>\n
Constitution: 6 January 1986<\/p>\n
Legal system: dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American common
\nlaw for the modern sector and customary law based on unwritten tribal practices
\nfor indigenous sector<\/p>\n
National holiday: Independence Day, 26 July (1847)<\/p>\n
Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of an
\nupper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: People’s Supreme Court<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nChief of State and Head of Government–President Gen. Dr. Samuel Kanyon
\nDOE (since 12 April 1980); Vice President Harry F. MONIBA (since 6 January
\n1986)<\/p>\n
Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Party of Liberia
\n(NDPL), Augustus Caine, chairman; Liberian Action Party (LAP), Emmanuel
\nKoromah, chairman; Unity Party (UP), Carlos Smith, chairman; United
\nPeople’s Party (UPP), Gabriel Baccus Matthews, chairman<\/p>\n
Suffrage: universal at age 18<\/p>\n
Elections:
\nPresident–last held on 15 October 1985 (next to be held October 1991);
\nresults–Samuel Kanyon Doe (NDPL) 50.9%, Jackson Doe (LAP) 26.4%,
\nothers 22.7%;<\/p>\n
Senate–last held on 15 October 1985 (next to be held 15 October
\n1991); results–percent of vote by party NA;
\nseats–(26 total) NDPL 21, LAP 3, UP 1, LUP 1;<\/p>\n
House of Representatives–last held on 15 October 1985 (next
\nto be held October 1991); results–percent of vote by party NA;
\nseats–(64 total) NDPL 51, LAP 8, UP 3, LUP 2<\/p>\n
Member of: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICO,
\nIDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IPU, IRC, ITU, Mano River Union, NAM,
\nOAU, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Eugenia A. WORDSWORTH-STEVENSON;
\nChancery at 5201 16th Street NW, Washington DC 20011; telephone (202) 723-0437
\nthrough 0440; there is a Liberian Consulate General in New York;
\nUS–Ambassador James K. BISHOP; Embassy at 111 United Nations Drive,
\nMonrovia (mailing address is P. O. Box 98, Monrovia, or APO New York 09155);
\ntelephone \u00d5231\u00e5 222991 through 222994<\/p>\n
Flag: 11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with
\nwhite; there is a white five-pointed star on a blue square in the upper
\nhoist-side corner; the design was based on the US flag<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: In 1988 and 1989 the Liberian economy posted its best two years
\nin a decade, thanks to a resurgence of the rubber industry and rapid growth
\nin exports of forest products. Richly endowed with water, mineral resources,
\nforests, and a climate favorable to agriculture, Liberia is a producer and
\nexporter of basic products. Local manufacturing, mainly foreign owned, is
\nsmall in scope. Liberia imports primarily machinery and parts, transportation
\nequipment, petroleum products, and foodstuffs. Persistent budget deficits,
\nthe flight of capital, and deterioration of transport and other infrastructure
\ncontinue to hold back economic progress.<\/p>\n
GDP: $988 million, per capita $395; real growth rate 1.5% (1988)<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 12% (1989)<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: 43% urban (1988)<\/p>\n
Budget: revenues $242.1 million; expenditures $435.4 million, including
\ncapital expenditures of $29.5 million (1989)<\/p>\n
Exports: $550 million (f.o.b., 1989); commodities–iron ore 61%,
\nrubber 20%, timber 11%, coffee; partners–US, EC, Netherlands<\/p>\n
Imports: $335 million (c.i.f., 1989); commodities–rice, mineral
\nfuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, other foodstuffs;
\npartners–US, EC, Japan, China, Netherlands, ECOWAS<\/p>\n
External debt: $1.7 billion (December 1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Industrial production: growth rate 1.5% in
\nmanufacturing (1987)<\/p>\n
Electricity: 400,000 kW capacity; 730 million kWh produced,
\n290 kWh per capita (1989)<\/p>\n
Industries: rubber processing, food processing, construction
\nmaterials, furniture, palm oil processing, mining (iron ore, diamonds)<\/p>\n
Agriculture: accounts for about 40% of GDP (including fishing and
\nforestry); principal products–rubber, timber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava,
\npalm oil, sugarcane, bananas, sheep, and goats; not self-sufficient in food,
\nimports 25% of rice consumption<\/p>\n
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $634 million; Western
\n(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $793 million;
\nOPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $25 million; Communist countries (1970-88), $77
\nmillion<\/p>\n
Currency: Liberian dollar (plural–dollars);
\n1 Liberian dollar (L$) = 100 cents<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: Liberian dollars (L$) per US$1–1.00 (fixed rate since
\n1940); unofficial parallel exchange rate of L$2.5 = US$1, January 1989<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: calendar year<\/p>\n
Communications
\nRailroads: 480 km total; 328 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 152 km
\n1.067-meter narrow gauge; all lines single track; rail systems owned and
\noperated by foreign steel and financial interests in conjunction with Liberian
\nGovernment<\/p>\n
Highways: 10,087 km total; 603 km bituminous treated, 2,848 km
\nall weather, 4,313 km dry weather; there are also 2,323 km of private,
\nlaterite-surfaced roads open to public use, owned by rubber and timber
\ncompanies<\/p>\n
Ports: Monrovia, Buchanan, Greenville, Harper (or Cape Palmas)<\/p>\n
Merchant marine: 1,379 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 48,655,666 DWT\/
\n90,005,898 DWT; includes 11 passenger, 148 cargo, 26 refrigerated cargo, 18
\nroll-on\/roll-off cargo, 42 vehicle carrier, 42 container, 4 barge
\ncarrier, 436 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 100 chemical,
\n63 combination ore\/oil, 41 liquefied gas, 6 specialized tanker, 413
\nbulk, 2 multifunction large-load carrier, 26 combination bulk; note–a
\nflag of convenience registry; all ships are foreign owned; the top
\nfour owning flags are US 17%, Hong Kong 13%, Japan 10%, and Greece 10%;
\nChina owns at least 20 ships and Vietnam owns 1<\/p>\n
Civil air: 3 major transport aircraft<\/p>\n
Airports: 76 total, 60 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways;
\nnone with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 4 with
\nrunways 1,220-2,439 m<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: telephone and telegraph service via radio relay
\nnetwork; main center is Monrovia; 8,500 telephones; stations–3 AM, 4 FM, 5 TV;
\n2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nBranches: Armed Forces of Liberia, Liberia National Coast Guard<\/p>\n
Military manpower: males 15-49, 627,519; 335,063 fit for military service;
\nno conscription<\/p>\n
Defense expenditures: 2.4% of GDP (1987)
\n.pa
\nLibya
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 1,759,540 km2; land area: 1,759,540 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly larger than Alaska<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: 4,383 km total; Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt
\n1,150 km, Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km<\/p>\n
Coastline: 1,770 km<\/p>\n
Maritime claims:<\/p>\n
Territorial sea: 12 nm;<\/p>\n
Gulf of Sidra closing line: 32o 30′ N<\/p>\n
Disputes: claims and occupies a small portion of the Aozou Strip in
\nnorthern Chad; maritime boundary dispute with Tunisia; Libya claims about 19,400
\nkm2 in northern Niger; Libya claims about 19,400 km2 in southeastern Algeria<\/p>\n
Climate: Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior<\/p>\n
Terrain: mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions<\/p>\n
Natural resources: crude oil, natural gas, gypsum<\/p>\n
Land use: 1% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 8% meadows and pastures;
\n0% forest and woodland; 91% other; includes NEGL% irrigated<\/p>\n
Environment: hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting
\none to four days in spring and fall; desertification; sparse natural
\nsurface-water resources<\/p>\n
Note: the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water
\ndevelopment scheme in the world, is being built to bring water from large
\naquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 4,221,141 (July 1990), growth rate 3.1% (1990)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 37 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 7 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: 0 migrants\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 64 deaths\/1,000 live births (1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 65 years male, 70 years female (1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 5.2 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: noun–Libyan(s); adjective–Libyan<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: 97% Berber and Arab; some Greeks, Maltese, Italians,
\nEgyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, and Tunisians<\/p>\n
Religion: 97% Sunni Muslim<\/p>\n
Language: Arabic; Italian and English widely understood in major cities<\/p>\n
Literacy: 50-60%<\/p>\n
Labor force: 1,000,000, includes about 280,000 resident
\nforeigners; 31% industry, 27% services, 24% government, 18% agriculture<\/p>\n
Organized labor: National Trade Unions’ Federation, 275,000 members;
\nGeneral Union for Oil and Petrochemicals; Pan-Africa Federation of Petroleum
\nEnergy and Allied Workers<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya<\/p>\n
Type: Jamahiriya (a state of the masses); in theory, governed by
\nthe populace through local councils; in fact, a military dictatorship<\/p>\n
Capital: Tripoli<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: 46 municipalities (baladiyat,
\nsingular–baladiyah); Ajdabiya, Al Abyar, Al Aziziyah,
\nAl Bayda, Al Jufrah, Al Jumayl, Al Khums, Al Kufrah, Al Marj,
\nAl Qarabulli, Al Qubbah, Al Ujaylat, Ash Shati,
\nAwbari, Az Zahra, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi, Bani Walid,
\nBin Jawwad, Darnah, Ghadamis, Gharyan, Ghat, Jadu, Jalu,
\nJanzur, Masallatah, Misratah, Mizdah, Murzuq, Nalut,
\nQaminis, Qasr Bin Ghashir, Sabha, Sabratah, Shahhat,
\nSurman, Surt, Tajura, Tarabulus, Tarhunah, Tubruq,
\nTukrah, Yafran, Zlitan, Zuwarah; note–the number of municipalities may
\nhave been reduced to 13 named Al Jabal al-Akhdar, Al Jabal al-Gharbi,
\nAl Jabal al-Khums, Al Batnam, Al Kufrah, Al Marqab, Al Marzuq, Az Zawiyah,
\nBanghazi, Khalij Surt, Sabha, Tripoli, Wadi al-Hayat<\/p>\n
Independence: 24 December 1951 (from Italy)<\/p>\n
Constitution: 11 December 1969, amended 2 March 1977<\/p>\n
Legal system: based on Italian civil law system and Islamic law; separate
\nreligious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial review of legislative
\nacts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction<\/p>\n
National holiday: Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)<\/p>\n
Executive branch: revolutionary leader, chairman of the General
\nPeople’s Committee, General People’s Committee (cabinet)<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: unicameral General People’s Congress<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: Supreme Court<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nChief of State–Revolutionary Leader Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI
\n(since 1 September 1969);<\/p>\n
Head of Government–Chairman of the General People’s Committee (Premier)
\nUmar Mustafa al-MUNTASIR (since 1 March 1987)<\/p>\n
Political parties and leaders: none<\/p>\n
Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18<\/p>\n
Elections: national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of
\nrevolutionary committees<\/p>\n
Flag: plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the state
\nreligion)<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: The socialist-oriented economy depends primarily upon revenues
\nfrom the oil sector, which contributes virtually all export earnings and over
\n50% to GNP. Since 1980, however, the sharp drop in oil prices and resulting
\ndecline in export revenues has adversely affected economic development. In 1986
\nper capita GNP was the highest in Africa at $5,410, but it had been $2,000
\nhigher in 1982. Severe cutbacks in imports over the past five years have
\nled to shortages of basic goods and foodstuffs, although the reopening
\nof the Libyan-Tunisian border in April 1988 and the Libyan-Egyptian
\nborder in December 1989 have somewhat eased shortages. Austerity
\nbudgets and a lack of trained technicians have undermined the government’s
\nability to implement a number of planned infrastructure development
\nprojects. The nonoil industrial and construction sectors, which
\naccount for about 15% of GNP, have expanded from processing
\nmostly agricultural products to include petrochemicals, iron, steel,
\nand aluminum. Although agriculture accounts for less than 5% of GNP, it employs
\n20% of the labor force. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limit farm
\noutput, requiring Libya to import about 75% of its food requirements.<\/p>\n
GNP: $20 billion, per capita $5,410; real growth rate 0% (1988 est.)<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 20% (1988 est.)<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: 2% (1988 est.)<\/p>\n
Budget: revenues $6.4 billion; expenditures $11.3 billion, including
\ncapital expenditures of $3.6 billion (1986 est.)<\/p>\n
Exports: $6.1 billion (f.o.b., 1988 est.); commodities–petroleum,
\npeanuts, hides; partners–Italy, USSR, FRG, Spain, France,
\nBelgium\/Luxembourg, Turkey<\/p>\n
Imports: $5.0 billion (f.o.b., 1988 est.); commodities–machinery,
\ntransport equipment, food, manufactured goods; partners–Italy, USSR,
\nFRG, UK, Japan<\/p>\n
External debt: $2.1 billion, excluding military debt (December 1988)<\/p>\n
Industrial production: growth rate NA%<\/p>\n
Electricity: 4,580,000 kW capacity; 13,360 million kWh produced,
\n3,270 kWh per capita (1989)<\/p>\n
Industries: petroleum, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement<\/p>\n
Agriculture: 5% of GNP; cash crops–wheat, barley, olives, dates,
\ncitrus fruits, peanuts; 75% of food is imported<\/p>\n
Aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
\n(1970-87), $242 million<\/p>\n
Currency: Libyan dinar (plural–dinars);
\n1 Libyan dinar (LD) = 1,000 dirhams<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: Libyan dinars (LD) per US$1–0.2896 (January 1990),
\n0.2922 (1989), 0.2853 (1988), 0.2706 (1987), 0.3139 (1986), 0.2961 (1985)<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: calendar year<\/p>\n
Communications
\nHighways: 32,500 km total; 24,000 km bituminous and bituminous treated,
\n8,500 km gravel, crushed stone and earth<\/p>\n
Pipelines: crude oil 4,383 km; natural gas 1,947 km; refined products
\n443 km (includes 256 km liquid petroleum gas)<\/p>\n
Ports: Tobruk, Tripoli, Banghazi, Misratah, Marsa el Brega<\/p>\n
Merchant marine: 30 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 816,546
\nGRT\/1,454,874 DWT; includes 3 short-sea passenger, 11 cargo, 4 roll-on\/roll-off
\ncargo, 11 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker<\/p>\n
Civil air: 59 major transport aircraft<\/p>\n
Airports: 130 total, 122 usable; 53 with permanent-surface runways;
\n7 with runways over 3,659 m; 30 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 44 with runways
\n1,220-2,439 m<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: modern telecommunications system using radio relay,
\ncoaxial cable, tropospheric scatter, and domestic satellite stations;
\n370,000 telephones; stations–18 AM, 3 FM, 13 TV; satellite earth stations–
\n1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, and 14 domestic;
\nsubmarine cables to France and Italy; radio relay to Tunisia; tropospheric
\nscatter to Greece; planned ARABSAT and Intersputnik satellite stations<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nBranches: Armed Forces of the Libyan Arab Jamahariya includes
\nPeople’s Defense (Army), Arab Air Force and Air Defense Command, Arab
\nNavy<\/p>\n
Military manpower: males 15-49, 991,368; 584,512 fit for military service;
\n50,379 reach military age (17) annually; conscription now being implemented<\/p>\n
Defense expenditures: 11.1% of GNP (1987)
\n.pa
\nLiechtenstein
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 160 km2; land area: 160 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: 78 km total; Austria 37 km, Switzerland 41 km<\/p>\n
Coastline: none–landlocked<\/p>\n
Maritime claims: none–landlocked<\/p>\n
Climate: continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain;
\ncool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers<\/p>\n
Terrain: mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third<\/p>\n
Natural resources: hydroelectric potential<\/p>\n
Land use: 25% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 38% meadows and
\npastures; 19% forest and woodland; 18% other<\/p>\n
Environment: variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation<\/p>\n
Note: landlocked<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 28,292 (July 1990), growth rate 0.7% (1990)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 13 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 7 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: 1 migrant\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 5 deaths\/1,000 live births (1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 73 years male, 81 years female (1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 1.5 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: noun–Liechtensteiner(s); adjective–Liechtenstein<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: 95% Alemannic, 5% Italian and other<\/p>\n
Religion: 82.7% Roman Catholic, 7.1% Protestant, 10.2% other<\/p>\n
Language: German (official), Alemannic dialect<\/p>\n
Literacy: 100%<\/p>\n
Labor force: 12,258; 5,078 foreign workers (mostly from Switzerland and
\nAustria); 54.4% industry, trade, and building; 41.6% services; 4.0% agriculture,
\nfishing, forestry, and horticulture<\/p>\n
Organized labor: NA<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: Principality of Liechtenstein<\/p>\n
Type: hereditary constitutional monarchy<\/p>\n
Capital: Vaduz<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: 11 communes (gemeinden, singular–gemeinde);
\nBalzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg,
\nTriesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz<\/p>\n
Independence: 23 January 1719, Imperial Principality of Liechtenstein
\nestablished<\/p>\n
Constitution: 5 October 1921<\/p>\n
Legal system: local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ
\njurisdiction, with reservations<\/p>\n
National holiday: St. Joseph’s Day, 19 March<\/p>\n
Executive branch: reigning prince, hereditary prince, prime
\nminister, deputy prime minister<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: unicameral Diet (Landtag)<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) for criminal
\ncases and Superior Court (Obergericht) for civil cases<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nChief of State–Prince HANS ADAM von und zu Liechtenstein
\n(since 13 November 1989; assumed executive powers 26 August 1984);<\/p>\n
Head of Government–Prime Minister Hans BRUNHART (since 26 April 1978);
\nDeputy Prime Minister Dr. Herbert WILLE (since 2 February 1986)<\/p>\n
Political parties and leaders: Fatherland Union (VU), Dr. Otto Hasler;
\nProgressive Citizens’ Party (FBP), Dr. Herbert Batliner; Christian Social Party,
\nFritz Kaiser<\/p>\n
Suffrage: universal at age 18<\/p>\n
Elections:
\nDiet–last held on 5 March 1989 (next to be held by March 1993);
\nresults–percent of vote by party NA;
\nseats–(25 total) VU 13, FBP 12<\/p>\n
Communists: none<\/p>\n
Member of: Council of Europe, EFTA, IAEA, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU, UNCTAD,
\nUNIDO, UNICEF, UPU, WIPO; considering UN membership; has consultative status in
\nthe EC<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: in routine diplomatic matters, Liechtenstein
\nis represented in the US by the Swiss Embassy;
\nUS–the US has no diplomatic or consular mission in Liechtenstein, but the
\nUS Consul General at Zurich (Switzerland) has consular accreditation at Vaduz<\/p>\n
Flag: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown
\non the hoist side of the blue band<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: The prosperous economy is based primarily on small-scale light
\nindustry and some farming. Industry accounts for 54% of total employment,
\nthe service sector 42% (mostly based on tourism), and agriculture and
\nforestry 4%. The sale of postage stamps to collectors is estimated at $10
\nmillion annually and accounts for 10% of revenues. Low business taxes (the
\nmaximum tax rate is 20%) and easy incorporation rules have induced about 25,000
\nholding or so-called letter box companies to establish nominal offices in
\nLiechtenstein. Such companies, incorporated solely for tax purposes, provide an
\nadditional 30% of state revenues. The economy is tied closely to that of
\nSwitzerland in a customs union, and incomes and living standards parallel those
\nof the more prosperous Swiss groups.<\/p>\n
GNP: $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate NA%<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (1987 est.)<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: 0.1% (December 1986)<\/p>\n
Budget: revenues $171 million; expenditures $189 million, including
\ncapital expenditures of NA (1986)<\/p>\n
Exports: $807 million;
\ncommodities–small specialty machinery, dental products, stamps,
\nhardware, pottery;
\npartners–EC 40%, EFTA 26% (Switzerland 19%) (1986)<\/p>\n
Imports: $NA; commodities–machinery, metal goods, textiles,
\nfoodstuffs, motor vehicles;
\npartners–NA<\/p>\n
External debt: $NA<\/p>\n
Industrial production: growth rate NA%<\/p>\n
Electricity: 23,000 kW capacity; 150 million kWh produced,
\n5,340 kWh per capita (1989)<\/p>\n
Industries: electronics, metal manufacturing, textiles, ceramics,
\npharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism<\/p>\n
Agriculture: livestock, vegetables, corn, wheat, potatoes, grapes<\/p>\n
Aid: none<\/p>\n
Currency: Swiss franc, franken, or franco (plural–francs, franken,
\nor franchi); 1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SwF) = 100 centimes, rappen,
\nor centesimi<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per US$1–1.5150
\n(January 1990), 1.6359 (1989), 1.4633 (1988), 1.4912 (1987), 1.7989 (1986),
\n2.4571 (1985)<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: calendar year<\/p>\n
Communications
\nRailroads: 18.5 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, electrified; owned,
\noperated, and included in statistics of Austrian Federal Railways<\/p>\n
Highways: 130.66 km main roads, 192.27 km byroads<\/p>\n
Civil air: no transport aircraft<\/p>\n
Airports: none<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: automatic telephone system; 25,400 telephones;
\nstations–no AM, no FM, no TV<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nNote: defense is responsibility of Switzerland
\n.pa
\nLuxembourg
\nGeography
\nTotal area: 2,586 km2; land area: 2,586 km2<\/p>\n
Comparative area: slightly smaller than Rhode Island<\/p>\n
Land boundaries: 359 km total; Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, FRG 138 km<\/p>\n
Coastline: none–landlocked<\/p>\n
Maritime claims: none–landlocked<\/p>\n
Climate: modified continental with mild winters, cool summers<\/p>\n
Terrain: mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys;
\nuplands to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselle
\nfloodplain in the southeast<\/p>\n
Natural resources: iron ore (no longer exploited)<\/p>\n
Land use: 24% arable land; 1% permanent crops; 20% meadows and
\npastures; 21% forest and woodland; 34% other<\/p>\n
Environment: deforestation<\/p>\n
Note: landlocked<\/p>\n
People
\nPopulation: 383,813 (July 1990), growth rate 1.1% (1989)<\/p>\n
Birth rate: 12 births\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Death rate: 10 deaths\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Net migration rate: 9 migrants\/1,000 population (1990)<\/p>\n
Infant mortality rate: 7 deaths\/1,000 live births (1990)<\/p>\n
Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 80 years female (1990)<\/p>\n
Total fertility rate: 1.5 children born\/woman (1990)<\/p>\n
Nationality: noun–Luxembourger(s); adjective–Luxembourg<\/p>\n
Ethnic divisions: Celtic base, with French and German blend; also guest
\nand worker residents from Portugal, Italy, and European countries<\/p>\n
Religion: 97% Roman Catholic, 3% Protestant and Jewish<\/p>\n
Language: Luxembourgish, German, French; many also speak English<\/p>\n
Literacy: 100%<\/p>\n
Labor force: 161,000; one-third of labor force is foreign workers, mostly
\nfrom Portugal, Italy, France, Belgium, and FRG; 48.9% services, 24.7% industry,
\n13.2% government, 8.8% construction, 4.4% agriculture (1984)<\/p>\n
Organized labor: 100,000 (est.) members of four confederated trade unions<\/p>\n
Government
\nLong-form name: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg<\/p>\n
Type: constitutional monarchy<\/p>\n
Capital: Luxembourg<\/p>\n
Administrative divisions: 3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg<\/p>\n
Independence: 1839<\/p>\n
Constitution: 17 October 1868, occasional revisions<\/p>\n
Legal system: based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
\njurisdiction<\/p>\n
National holiday: National Day (public celebration of the Grand Duke’s
\nbirthday), 23 June (1921)<\/p>\n
Executive branch: grand duke, prime minister, vice prime minister,
\nCouncil of Ministers (cabinet)<\/p>\n
Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des
\nDeputes); note–the Council of State (Conseil d’Etat) is an advisory
\nbody whose views are considered by the Chamber of Deputies<\/p>\n
Judicial branch: Superior Court of Justice (Cour Superieure de
\nde Justice)<\/p>\n
Leaders:
\nChief of State–Grand Duke JEAN (since 12 November 1964);
\nHeir Apparent Prince HENRI (son of Grand Duke Jean, born 16 April 1955);<\/p>\n
Head of Government–Prime Minister Jacques SANTER (since 21 July 1984);
\nDeputy Prime Minister Jacques F. POOS (since 21 July 1984)<\/p>\n
Political parties and leaders: Christian Social Party (CSV),
\nJacques Santer; Socialist Workers Party (LSAP), Jacques Poos; Liberal (DP),
\nColette Flesch; Communist (KPL), Rene Urbany; Green Alternative (GAP),
\nJean Huss<\/p>\n
Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18<\/p>\n
Elections:
\nChamber of Deputies–last held on 18 June 1989 (next to be held
\nby June 1994);
\nresults–CSV 31.7%, LSAP 27.2%, DP 16.2%, Greens 8.4%, PAC 7.3%, KPL 5.1%,
\nothers 4%;
\nseats–(60 total) CSV 22, LSAP 18, DP 11, Greens 4, PAC 4, KPL 1, others 4<\/p>\n
Communists: 500 party members (1982)<\/p>\n
Other political or pressure groups: group of steel industries representing
\niron and steel industry, Centrale Paysanne representing agricultural producers;
\nChristian and Socialist labor unions; Federation of Industrialists; Artisans and
\nShopkeepers Federation<\/p>\n
Member of: Benelux, BLEU, CCC, Council of Europe, EC, EIB, EMS, FAO, GATT,
\nIAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOOC, IPU,
\nITU, NATO, OECD, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO<\/p>\n
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Andre PHILIPPE; Chancery at
\n2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 265-4171;
\nthere are Luxembourg Consulates General in New York and San Francisco;
\nUS–Ambassador Jean B. S. GERARD; Embassy at 22 Boulevard
\nEmmanuel-Servais, 2535 Luxembourg City (mailing address is APO New York 09132);
\ntelephone \u00d5352\u00e5 460123<\/p>\n
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue;
\nsimilar to the flag of the Netherlands which uses a darker blue and is shorter;
\ndesign was based on the flag of France<\/p>\n
Economy
\nOverview: The stable economy features moderate growth, low
\ninflation, and negligible unemployment. Agriculture is based on small but
\nhighly productive family-owned farms. The industrial sector, until
\nrecently dominated by steel, has become increasingly more diversified,
\nparticularly toward high-technology firms. During the past decade growth
\nin the financial sector has more than compensated for the decline in
\nsteel. Services, especially banking, account for a growing proportion
\nof the economy. Luxembourg participates in an economic union with
\nBelgium on trade and most financial matters and is also closely connected
\neconomically with the Netherlands.<\/p>\n
GDP: $6.3 billion, per capita $17,200; real growth rate 4% (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.0% (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Unemployment rate: 1.6% (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Budget: revenues $2.5 billion; expenditures $2.3 billion, including
\ncapital expenditures of NA (1988)<\/p>\n
Exports: $4.7 billion (f.o.b., 1988); commodities–finished
\nsteel products, chemicals, rubber products, glass, aluminum, other industrial
\nproducts; partners–EC 75%, US 6%<\/p>\n
Imports: $5.9 billion (c.i.f., 1988 est.); commodities–minerals,
\nmetals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods; partners–FRG 40%,
\nBelgium 35%, France 15%, US 3%<\/p>\n
External debt: $131.6 million (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Industrial production: growth rate 5% (1989 est.)<\/p>\n
Electricity: 1,500,000 kW capacity; 1,163 million kWh produced,
\n3,170 kWh per capita (1989)<\/p>\n
Industries: banking, iron and steel, food processing, chemicals,
\nmetal products, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum<\/p>\n
Agriculture: accounts for less than 3% of GDP (including forestry);
\nprincipal products–barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits, wine grapes;
\ncattle raising widespread<\/p>\n
Aid: none<\/p>\n
Currency: Luxembourg franc (plural–francs);
\n1 Luxembourg franc (LuxF) = 100 centimes<\/p>\n
Exchange rates: Luxembourg francs (LuxF) per US$1–35.468 (January 1990),
\n39.404 (1989), 36.768 (1988), 37.334 (1987), 44.672 (1986), 59.378 (1985);
\nnote–the Luxembourg franc is at par with the Belgian franc, which circulates
\nfreely in Luxembourg<\/p>\n
Fiscal year: calendar year<\/p>\n
Communications
\nRailroads: Luxembourg National Railways (CFL) operates 270 km 1.435-meter
\nstandard gauge; 162 km double track; 162 km electrified<\/p>\n
Highways: 5,108 km total; 4,995 km paved, 57 km gravel, 56 km earth; about
\n80 km limited access divided highway<\/p>\n
Inland waterways: 37 km; Moselle River<\/p>\n
Pipelines: refined products, 48 km<\/p>\n
Ports: Mertert (river port)<\/p>\n
Merchant marine: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,138 GRT\/9,373 DWT;
\nincludes 2 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 2 chemical tanker<\/p>\n
Civil air: 13 major transport aircraft<\/p>\n
Airports: 2 total, 2 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways;
\n1 with runways less than 1,220 m; 1 with runways over 3,659 m<\/p>\n
Telecommunications: adequate and efficient system, mainly buried cables;
\n230,000 telephones; stations–2 AM, 4 FM, 6 TV; 2 communication satellite
\nearth stations operating in EUTELSAT and domestic systems<\/p>\n
Defense Forces
\nBranches: Army<\/p>\n
Military manpower: males 15-49, 99,734; 83,237 fit for military service;
\n2,368 reach military age (19) annually<\/p>\n
Defense expenditures: 1.2% of GDP, or $76 million (1989 est.)
\n.pa<\/p>\n
